Issues Archive

The most complete archive of clinical and pathology lab industry news available, including issues from 1997 to the present.

Volume XVIII No. 7 – May 23, 2011

In this issue:

THE LABORATORY AT WELLSPAN HEALTH SYSTEM in York, Pennsylvania decided to apply Lean methods to the common problem of lengthy wait times for patients at phlebotomy sites. Their Lean projects at two pilot patient service centers (PSC) produced a reduction in average waiting times by 80% and 75%, respectively. More impressively, the Lean time produced these outcomes at minimal cost and no increase in staff. Also, important healthcare reform topics such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), medical homes and value-based contracting were hot at this year’s Executive War College.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVIII No. 6 – May 2, 2011

In this issue:

THE DARK REPORT HAS CONDUCTED the lab industry’s first-ever survey of the nation’s best-known attorneys who specialize in lab industry legal matters. The initial findings of our survey are presented in this issue, to give you a unique, high-level view of what the lab industry’s keenest legal minds consider to be high-priority/must-act issues for this year and next, and provide early knowledge of these potential threats along with the time to prepare your lab.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVIII No. 5 – April 11, 2011

In this issue:

WITH LAB BUDGETS SHRINKING, the ranks of skilled medical technologists diminishing as Baby Boomers retire, and accreditation and licensure inspections becoming tougher, laboratory managers are struggling. Recently, an experienced laboratory management consultant polled her peers to identify the specific problems that were most often encountered in lab consulting assignments. The survey discussed in this issue identified what Anne Daley of Chi Solutions Inc., calls the “Seven Deadly Lab Sins.”

View Issue TOC

Volume XVII No. 4 – March 21, 2011

In this issue:

AFTER SEVERAL DECADES of steadfastly maintaining their independence from other pathology groups in their community, progressive hospital-based pathology groups are beginning to create regional laboratory testing networks. These collaborations generally start small and often involve just a few simple testing services. In North Carolina, one pathology group has created two separate test exchange networks. One is with a pathology group and the other is with a physician group.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVIII No. 3 – February 28, 2011

In this issue:

HERE’S AN INNOVATIVE WAY to help uninsured and underinsured patients gain access to affordably priced laboratory tests. In Akron, Ohio, physicians organized a partnership between the Summit Country Medical Society and PrePaidLab, LLC, to offer laboratory tests at prices that are comparable to Medicare. Everything worked well until CNN broadcast a laudatory story In December on the arrangement and how it helped uninsured patients. Soon after, the national lab company terminated its low-price lab test contract with PrePaidLab.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVIII No. 2 – February 7, 2011

In this issue:

TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY of lab services it provides to more than 300 skilled nursing facilities (SNF) while reducing costs, MuirLab of Concord, California, has created a “mobile specimen processing” solution. It operates a fleet of courier cars with centrifuges and refrigerated storage. Now specimens transported by these cars arrive at the core lab already labeled and processed so they can go directly onto the automated line. This is just one part of an effort to advance patient care by integrating wireless informatics solutions with mobile processing.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVIII No. 1 – January 18, 2011

In this issue:

ONCE IT WAS DECIDED to replace an aging, five-year-old laboratory automation system at the laboratory of Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey, Illinois, the administration at the hospital issued a challenge. It asked the laboratory team to deliver an immediate 10% cost savings upon implementation of its next-generation laboratory automation solution. Because of a rigorous RFP process, the laboratory met that goal and is on track to produce savings to 20% from its new lab automation during its first year of operation.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVII No. 18 – December 27, 2010

In this issue:

THIS MAY BE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT lab industry story of 2010, which has gone unreported until this issue of THE DARK REPORT. Starting in June and July, California’s Department of Health Care Services determined that between 10 and 30 labs had submit- ted what the agency considers to be false claims. It sent out letters to these labs to notify them that they were suspended from the Medi-Cal program. It has since softened that stance, but in September, the agency sent letters to as many as 300 laboratories requiring them to self-audit their Medi-Cal claims.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVII No. 17 – December 6, 2010

In this issue:

IN ADDITION TO 2010’s TOP 10 STORIES — largely focused on the PPACA and the federal government — it’s also notable that an experienced lab recruiter explains how labs can benefit from these new Internet methods of reaching potential staff. In Salt Lake City, ARUP Laboratories has already taken the opportunity to use the Web and social media to create conversations with medical technologists and other potential employees.

View Issue TOC

Volume XVII No. 16 – November 15, 2010

In this issue:

MORE BUYERS ARE CROWDING INTO the lab testing industry and looking to acquire anatomic pathology testing companies. These buyers are willing to pay strong prices to acquire AP labs and companies which they determine to be a strategic fit. All of this acquisition activity is happening even as the Baby Boomer generation of pathologists is poised to begin retiring in significant numbers. In coming months, that factor may trigger more intense AP merger/acquisition activity.

View Issue TOC

Don’t Be at the Mercy of the Tumultuous Healthcare Revolution

Subscribe to The Dark Report for as little as $15.27 per week.

Get the most expert business intelligence for clinical laboratories and pathology groups available today. Subscribe to The Dark Report.

Instagram
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
First name*
Last name*
Email*
Job Title*
Company Name*
Phone
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country
You’ll also receive the latest issue of our FREE newsletter, The Dark Report Insider, every three weeks!
Membership Plans*
- Platinum Membership
  
  Get digital and print editions of The Dark Report for only $22.97 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing
  Print Edition, Web Edition, and Web Archive
- Digital Membership
  
  Get web access of The Dark Report for only $19.12 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing
  Web Edition and Web Archive
- Print Membership
  
  Get a hard copy of The Dark Report delivered to your home for only $15.27 per week. Plus a Free bonus Executive Briefing *Offer valid in the United States and Canada only.
  Print Edition (US & Canada Only)

CURRENT ISSUE

Volume XXXII, No. 13 – September 15, 2025

The Dark Report examines a new bill that would reform PAMA and avoid reimbursement rate cuts scheduled for January 2026. Clinical laboratory leaders are urged to make their voices heard in Congress. Also, an expert describes how labs can fix pre-analytical errors and avoid disaster.

See the full table of contents

How Much Laboratory Business Intelligence Have You Missed?

Lab leaders rely on THE DARK REPORT for actionable intelligence on important developments in the business of laboratory testing. Maximize the money you make-and the money you keep! Best of all, it is released every three weeks!

Need A Group Membership? Company Discounts are Available!

Sign up for TDR Insider

Join the Dark Intelligence Group FREE and get TDR Insider FREE!
Never miss a single update on the issues that matter to you and your business.

Topics

Visit The Dark Library