CEO SUMMARY: Two trends are driving a movement to standardize laboratory operations across large regions: the integration of clinical care and the need for hospitals and health networks to continuously improve patient outcomes. THE DARK REPORT outlines an ambitious program in Michigan, where Ascension Health is working to align itself with an integrated health system
Tag: lab integration
Michigan’s Ascension to Standardize Labs Throughout the State
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXV No. 13 – September 10, 2018 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Two trends are driving a movement to standardize laboratory operations across large regions: the integration of clinical care and the need for hospitals and health networks to improve patient outcomes continuously. In Michigan, Ascension Health is an example of a lab team working to standardize lab testing activities among seven organizations, 14 hospitals,
At Executive War College 2016, Two Big Lab Market Trends
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XXIII, No. 6 - May 2, 2016 issue
CEO SUMMARY: What happens when 100 lab experts interact with an audience of more than 850 lab administrators, pathologists, and IVD executives from across the United States and seven other nations? A consensus of sorts emerges and during this 2016 edition of the Executive War College on Lab and Pathology Management, that consensus was how:
Meaningful Use Stage 2 Is Problem for EHR Firms
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XXII NO. 2 - January 26, 2015 issue
CEO SUMMARY: EHR system vendors must now comply with the federal government’s Meaningful Use Stage 2 requirements. Well-established EHR vendors will survive. But smaller EHR companies may struggle to provide the enhancements to their first generation EHR products that are required to certify as MU Stage 2 compliant. These developments mean many physicians may need to find new EHR vendors. In turn, that will require clinical labs to build new interfaces to these physicians’ EHRs.
Meaningful Use Stage 2 to Challenge Labs in 2014
By Joseph Burns, from the Volume XX No. 17 - December 23, 2013 issue
CEO SUMMARY: On December 6, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed to delay implementation of Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2 until 2016. One reason is that only about 80 vendors have certified their products to MU Stage 2. That is a small proportion of the almost 900 vendors who hold MU Stage 1
Lab Industry Would Be Smart To Issue EMR Report Card
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVII No. 11 - August 2, 2010 issue
Guest Opinion by:
Pat Wolfram
Editor’s Note: For almost 20 years, Pat Wolfram has worked to develop electronic medical record systems at companies like MedicaLogic and GE Healthcare. His firm specializes in developing effective electronic interfaces that allow a physician’s EMR system to handle lab test orders and lab test results with that physician’s clinical laboratory provider.
IN
New “Meaningful Use” Rules Are Easier on Docs
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVII No. 11 - August 2, 2010 issue
CEO SUMMARY: The federal government will spend $20 billion over the next four years to encourage every physician to use an electronic medical record (EMR) system. For labs, this increase in connectivity represents a significant marketing opportunity. However, the new federal rules on meaningful use of EMRs released last month may complicate the situation for
Predict 60,000 Doctors To Adopt EMRs Each Year
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVII No. 2 - January 25, 2010 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Only about 180,000 U.S. physicians have adopted electronic medical record (EMR) systems over the past 14 years—mostly in larger medical groups. Now experts believe as many as 60,000 physicians per year will begin to adopt EMRs because of new federal incentives funded by the stimulus bill passed early last year. This is a
Implementing Best Practices Across 27 Hospital Labs
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XV No. 6 - May 5, 2008 issue
CEO SUMMARY: It is always challenging to ensure consistency and high productivity across the different labs in a consolidated lab organization. To help staff focus on quality and efficiency, Alverno Clinical Laboratories LLC uses Lean methods to improve quality and timely delivery of lab results in its regional core laboratory and the labs in the
Quest Finally Owns Unilab, New Market Cycle To Begin
By Robert Michel, from the Volume X No. 3 - March 3, 2003 issue
PERSISTENCE FINALLY PAID OFF for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. On February 26, it took ownership of Unilab Corporation, capping almost 11 months of effort.
In completing this acquisition, Quest Diagnostics completes the two blood brothers’ acquisition sweep of mid-sized public lab companies during 2002. The familiar names of American Medical Laboratories, Dynacare, DIANON Systems, and Unilab are