Since 1995, Reliable Business Intelligence for Clinical Laboratories, Pathology Groups and Laboratory Diagnostics

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark

Lab Test Methodology and Widespread EMR Use

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

IN BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND, LAST WEEK to participate at the Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine (FiLM) conference, Editor Robert Michel picked up an interesting theme that connects to current laboratory events here in the United States. “General practice (GP) clinics in England are establishing electronic medical record (EMR) systems as a preliminary step toward the goal of […]

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Primum non nocere, or: First, Do No Harm!

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

“FIRST, DO NO HARM!” IS KNOWN TO EVERY HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL. However, I was surprised to learn that this famous phrase is not from the Hippocratic Oath! In checking wikipedia.com as I wrote the headline above, I learned that “the phrase expresses one of the principal precepts all medical students are taught in medical school and

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Patient Retest Effort Is Extraordinary Event

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT WE DEVOTE AN ENTIRE ISSUE TO A SINGLE TOPIC. The last single-topic special issue of THE DARK REPORT was almost exactly one year ago, when we provided the laboratory industry’s most detailed assessment of the Medicare Part B Competitive Bidding Demonstration Project, the details of which had finally been made

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A Common Future for Pathology & Radiology?

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

DO RADIOLOGISTS AND PATHOLOGISTS have a common future in the age of personalized medicine? That’s not an idle question as new technologies help both medical specialties to better understand how molecular processes play a role in various diseases. Oncology may prove to be the powerful force that encourages collaboration and greater clinical integration between radiology

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Growth Conundrum Confronts Quest and LabCorp

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

AFTER MORE THAN TWO DECADES of buying up almost every attractive laboratory asset that came up for sale—and with few lab acquisition candidates left to buy—Laboratory Corporation of America and Quest Diagnostics Incorporated find themselves in an interesting conundrum. As public companies, any increase in the value of their shares is directly linked to growth

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Genome Sequencing Promises to be Disruptive

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

EVERYONE SHOULD CAREFULLY READ OUR LEAD STORY ON THE FACING PAGE. Titled “Rapid Gene Sequencing Predicted by Mid-2009,” it is a revealing look at the declaration of California-based Complete Genetics that, in less than eight months, it will begin delivering full human genome sequences priced at $5,000 each to interested customers at a cost of

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Lean Six Sigma Takes Root in Labs & Hospitals

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

LAST WEEK, MORE THAN 300 ENTHUSIASTIC LAB AND HOSPITAL PROFESSIONALS from 11 different countries around the globe crowded into Atlanta for the Second Annual Lab Quality Confab. They were gathered to hear the latest success stories and breakthroughs in how laboratories and hospitals are using quality management methods like Lean and Six Sigma. If anyone

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Quality Management Systems (QMS) & Healthcare

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

OFF THE RADAR SCREEN OF THE LABORATORY INDUSTRY is an evolving management approach that gives unity to the mishmash of quality improvement tools that carry a variety of names, but have several common attributes. Soon lab directors and pathologists will be quite familiar with the concept of the “quality management system” (QMS). Wikipedia describes it

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Two Healthcare Trends Collide on These Pages

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

THIS ISSUE OF THE DARK REPORT YOU NOW HOLD IN YOUR HANDS demonstrates the perfect intersection of two trends. One trend, transparency in health outcomes and a public expectation of reduced medical errors, is a direct threat to laboratories which fail to deliver high-quality and accurate lab test results. The other trend is the way

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Lab Testing Hits Two Home Runs For Patients

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / R. Lewis Dark

MANY OF US POINT OUT THAT LABORATORY MEDICINE is an undervalued and under-utilized asset within the American healthcare system. Lab testing is generally a minimal cost relative to the total episode of care, yet lab testing provides essential knowledge to help clinicians make a quick, accurate diagnosis and confidently select appropriate therapies. Like the late

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