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

Volume XVI No. 2 - February 2, 2009

Lab Test Methodology and Widespread EMR Use

Commentary and Opinion by R. Lewis Dark / By 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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When Does Cost Cutting Affect a Lab’s Quality?

Lean Six Sigma / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Many lab professionals note the irony that a laboratory so publicly committed to Six Sigma quality management methods is now identified with the single largest episode of systemic failure in lab test accuracy. Looking in from the outside, some pathologists suggest that a decade of aggressive cost cutting and the current campaign to …

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Laboratory Industry Has “Elephant in the Room”

Laboratory Management / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: In almost every laboratory across the United States and in several countries around the globe, one much-discussed topic in recent weeks has been the Vitamin D testing program deficiencies at Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Yet, even as rank and file laboratorians actively talked to each other about what this story means, the lab industry’s …

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Quest’s Deficiencies Trigger QA/QC Questions

Laboratory Management / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Experts in laboratory QA/QC and proficiency testing (PT) are following the news that Quest Diagnostics admitted to an 18-month problem with lab test accuracy in its home brew Vitamin 25(OH) D assay. It is recognized as a major failure in the existing system of laboratory licensure, accreditation, and proficiency testing. However, to improve …

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Got a Lab Test Question? Call an ASCLS Lab Guru!

Clinical Laboratory Trends / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: Each year since its launch in 2001, the ASCLS Consumer Response Team serves increasing numbers of patients and physicians. Clinical Laboratory Scientist volunteers from the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science provide answers and help patients understand the meaning of their lab test results. After sending a question by e-mail, these patients get …

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Staunch Laboratory Advocate Retires After 31 Years of Service

Clinical Laboratory / By Robert Michel

LAST MONTH, THE LABORATORY INDUSTRY lost one its most dedicated, full-time advocates. With his retirement in January, Joe Boone, Ph.D., ended a 31-year career with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Boone started with the CDC in 1977. In 1992, he assumed his present position as Associate Director for Science, Division of Laboratory …

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Denver’s UniPath Sells Its Histo Labs to APP

Pathology Trends / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: UniPath ended a long search for a business partner with ample capital and resources to help it continue its aggressive rates of growth in specimen volume, market share, and revenue. UniPath announced the sale of its technical laboratories to American Pathology Partners of Brentwood, Tennessee, along with a business agreement to provide pathology …

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Did CMS Err in Issuing New Anti-Markup Rules?

Laboratory Compliance / By Robert Michel

CEO SUMMARY: In the latest anti-markup rules that took effect on January 1, CMS may have unintentionally stated that the anti-markup rule doesn’t apply when a pathologist is reviewing histology slides. While the rule itself is unclear, the commentary that accompanies the rule says that supervision is not required. This ambiguity has been noticed by …

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February 02, 2009 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”

Late Breaking Lab News / By Robert Michel

Last week, THE DARK REPORT was in Birmingham, England, to participate in the sixth annual Frontiers in Laboratory Medicine (FiLM) conference. This event is co-produced by the Association of Clinical Biochemistry (ACB) and THE DARK REPORT. It provides an opportunity to learn more about healthcare in the United Kingdom and how clinical laboratories serve this single-payer …

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