By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXIV, No. 11 – August 7, 2017 issue
CEO SUMMARY: In an effort to forestall CMS’ efforts to implement the PAMA final rule on market price reporting, Laboratory Corporation of America and Quest Diagnostics are meeting with members of Congress, officials in the administration, and the new leadership of CMS. During recent conference calls, executives at both lab companies shared insights about these
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXI NO. 2 – February 3, 2014 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Henry Ford Health System’s laboratory organization has become first in the nation to have all its laboratory sites “standardized under one source of leadership” and accredited to the standards of ISO 15189: Medical Laboratories. The journey to achieve this current state has taken almost 10 years and started with the development of a
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVI No. 10 - July 20, 2009 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Need proof that the issues surrounding today’s Vitamin 25(OH) D are of keen interest to laboratory professionals? Not only did the EXECUTIVE WAR COLLEGE’S in depth sessions on Vitamin D draw a large audience and enthusiastic participation by attendees, but within weeks, two of the lab industry’s most-watched magazines published headline stories about
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XV No. 16 - December 01, 2008 issue
CEO Summary: At the upcoming Molecular Summit in Philadelphia on February 10-11, 2009, pathologists, molecular imaging experts, and informaticians will share the latest developments on the integration of in vivo (imaging) and in vitro (pathology) diagnostics. A major theme will be discussion about multi-modality diagnostics and how this new discipline—driven by advances in genetics and
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XIV No. 3 - February 19, 2007 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Recent developments in breast cancer testing are leading to changes in pathology. Oncologists and pathologists have issued new guidelines regarding HER2 testing and new research suggests changes may be coming for estrogen-receptor testing as well. For the first time, the new guidelines require a certain level of testing and new procedures for pre-analytical
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XIII No. 11 - August 14, 2006 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Since October 2003, the core laboratory of Detroit Medical Center University Laboratories has operated with a home-grown total laboratory automation (TLA) system. The 100-foot automated line currently connects to 11 instruments and the hardware cost only $200,000 to build and install. Not only did it allow 20 medical technologists to shift to other
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XI No. 5 - April 5, 2004 issue
There’s a new national lab company ready to compete. This week American Esoterix Laboratories, Inc. (AEL) announced it was open and ready for business. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, it has already completed two lab acquisitions (ThromboCare Laboratories and Viral Diagnostics, Inc., both in the Dallas, Texas area). Chairman and CEO is Brian Carr. President and
By Robert Michel, from the Volume IX No. 1 - January 7, 2002 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Even as pressures to squeeze costs and consolidate within the pathology profession ease, a different set of market trends is exerting influence. Collectively, these trends portend the end of the small pathology group’s dominance of its local healthcare marketplace. It will become increasingly important for successful pathology groups to offer a full range
By Robert Michel, from the Volume VIII No. 11 - August 13, 2001 issue
THIS MONTH, ONE OF THE NATION’S most unique and effective nosocomial infection programs completes its seventh year of operation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
This one-of-a-kind infection control effort is organized around the laboratory—specifically, in-house molecular typing within the microbiology department. Functioning as part of a multi-disciplinary team chartered to cut the rate of hospital infections,
By Robert Michel, from the Volume VII No. 4 - March 6, 2000 issue
Interesting things are afoot at Esoterix, Inc., the Austin, Texas-based parent company for six specialty laboratories. President and CEO Charles L Dufesche, M.D. recently left. The new CEO is James McClintic. Esoterix has plans to become a public company and has been shopping its IPO (initial public offering) among brokerage houses. Calls to Esoterix went
