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Clinical pathology
Clinical pathology is a medical specialty that is concerned with the diagnosis of disease based on the laboratory analysis of bodily fluids, such as blood, urine, and tissue homogenates or extracts using the tools of chemistry, microbiology, hematology and molecular pathology. This specialty requires a medical residency.
Clinical pathologists often direct all of the special divisions of the laboratory, which may include the blood bank, clinical chemistry and biology, toxicology, hematology, immunology and serology, and microbiology. Clinical pathology also involves maintenance of laboratory information systems, research, and quality control.
According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, “The practice of pathology is most often conducted in community hospitals or in academic medical centers, where patient care, diagnostic services, and research go hand in hand. Creation of new knowledge is the lifeblood of pathology and many academic pathologists devote significant time in their career to research.”
The world’s largest professional membership organization for clinical pathologists and laboratory professionals, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP), says, “Pathologists are problem-solvers, fascinated by the process of disease and eager to unlock medical mysteries, like AIDS and diabetes, using the tools of laboratory medicine and its sophisticated instruments and methods. Pathologists make it possible to apply scientific advances to improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical diagnosis and treatment.”
Becoming a pathologist entails one of the lengthiest education and training tracks of all physicians. Requirements include four years of undergraduate study, plus four years of medical school, plus a minimum of four to five years of post-graduate training in pathology residency. The annual salary for clinical pathologists ranges from $183,000 to $360,000.
The American Board of Pathology certifies clinical pathologists, and recognizes the following secondary specialties of clinical pathology:
- Chemical pathology, also called clinical chemistry
- Hematopathology
- Blood banking / transfusion medicine
- Clinical microbiology
- Cytogenetics
- Molecular genetics pathology
Tools of clinical pathology include macroscopic examination, microscopes, microscopical examination, analyzers, centrifuges and cultures.
The ASCP has more than 100,000 members worldwide, and “provides excellence in education, certification and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists and laboratory professionals across the globe.”
June 12, 2006 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Many changes are unfolding across the laboratory industry, so we begin with some of the more significant developments involving people: TRANSITIONS •One of clinical pathology’s respected veterans is preparing to retire. Elkin Simson, M.D., Medical Director at th…
New Lab Firm Life Cycle Demonstrated by Focus
CEO SUMMARY: When an investment group bought Focus Diagnostics, Inc. in 2000, its business objective was to increase the value of the business and sell it between year five and ten of its ownership. Thus, the announcement last Friday that Focus Diagnostics would be acquired by Quest Diagn…
Victorville Community Hospital, Quest Diagnostics, ASCP, MIME
ASCP ACQUIRES MIME’S CYTOLOGY TRAINING AND PROFICIENCY TESTING IT WAS A BIG BREAK for pathologists and cytotechnologists involved in Pap testing. In a deal announced at the end of February, the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has acquired “the complete cyt…
Many Trends in AP Spell Lots of Change Ahead
CEO SUMMARY: Every second year, THE DARK REPORT releases its list of key trends in anatomic pathology. These trends help shape an understanding about the state of the pathology profession. Our current list includes 11 identifiable trends. This is not an auspicious sign for pathologists wh…
Picking Top Ten Stories Of 2005 for Lab Industry
CEO SUMMARY: THE DARK REPORT offers its pic…
Private Equity Firms: Ready to Buy More Labs?
CEO SUMMARY: Times are good in the laboratory industry. At least that’s the opinion of a growing number of professional investors. They are searching throughout the country for laboratories to acquire. They are motivated by the consistent financial performance of many lab companies, bot…
Bio-Reference Labs Develops Regional & Niche Strategies
CEO SUMMARY: Bio-Reference Laboratories, Inc. (BRLI) of Elmwood Park, New Jersey is a lab company on a roll. In just five years, it has grown from $66 million to more than $160 million in annual revenues. For regional laboratories across the country, BRLI’s business strategies demon…
Sonic HealthCare In US: How Will Market Change?
CEO SUMMARY: LabOne, Inc.’s acquisition by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, announced in early August, removes, as a competitor, a lab company that was growing and beginning to credibly challenge the two blood brothers. Just weeks later, Sonic Healthcare Ltd.’s purchase of Clinical Pat…
“September 12, 2005 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”
Integration of healthcare information is attracting major investments. On August 29, 2005, Per Se Technologies, Inc. and Wolters Kluwer NV announced that they would acquire NDCHealth Corp. They will pay $700 million and assume $270 million in debt. P…
Sonic Healthcare Buys Clinical Pathology Labs
CEO SUMMARY: It’s one of the most interesting lab acquisitions to take place in the past decade. Pathologist-owners of Austin, Texas-based Clinical Pathology Laboratories, Inc. are selling up to 85% of their lab company to Sonic Healthcare, Ltd, Australia’s largest laboratory firm. Th…
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