Georgia Micro Lab Slashes TAT by Almost Two Days

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXV No. 6 – April 16, 2018 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Two projects to boost the performance of the microbiology laboratory at University Health Services in Augusta, Ga., significantly reduced test turnaround times in ways that contributed to improved patient outcomes. The first project was in 2016, when the lab introduced mass s…

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Marshfield Clinic Lab Tackles Phlebotomy Workflow Redesign

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXIII No. 5 – April 11, 2016 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Before a redesign of phlebotomy workflow at Marshfield Clinic, patients might wait as long as an hour, particularly before noon when phlebotomists would see 75% of each day’s patients. After the redesign, the number of draw sites was reduced from five to two while hand…

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Despite Tough Anatomic Pathology Market, Bostwick Opens New Laboratory

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXIII, No. 1 – January 19, 2016 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Once again, entrepreneur and pathologist David G. Bostwick, MD, is starting up a new lab company. Granger Diagnostics is now open and is located in North Chesterfield, Virginia. It is designed to be an anatomic, clinical, and molecular pathology reference laboratory. In an ex…

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Lab Serving Large MD Group Manages Quality and Costs

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXI NO. 6 – April 28, 2014 Issue

 CEO SUMMARY: For decades, pathologists have pointed out that their expertise in laboratory medicine can be tapped by physicians to improve utilization of lab tests, contribute to improved patient outcomes, and reduce the overall cost of care. Exactly that is now happening at Atrius Heal…

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Using Lean at Henry Ford Transforms Pathology TAT

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XVI No. 11 – August 10, 2009 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Long-standing work flow traditions in anatomic pathology provide fertile ground for improvement with Lean and similar process improvement methods. That was the case at Henry Ford Health System, where empowered teams in the pathology laboratory employed the principles…

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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 …

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Big Seattle Med Center Adopts “Lean” Methods

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XI No. 16 – November 22, 2004 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Laboratory and pathology services at Virginia Mason Medical Center are an integral part of its hospital-wide Lean quality management initiative. Because of the importance of lab test data to so many clinical services, the laboratory often finds itself making key contributions…

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Mayo’s Scottsdale Hospital Lab Hits Big “Lean” Home Runs

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XI No. 12 – August 30, 2004 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Are Lean and Six Sigma techniques ready to make a big contribution in the laboratories of smaller hospitals? If you ask lab managers at Mayo Clinic’s Scottsdale Hospital, the answer is an unqualified “Yes!” Their 15-week Lean project in the hospital’s high volume core…

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Molecular Diagnostics’ “Gap in Expectations”

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XI No. 8 – June 7, 2004 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: This year’s Executive War College provided strong evidence that the twin trends of molecular diagnostics and Lean management methods are taking root within the laboratory industry. Each is a trend in its infancy. Molecular diagnostics will require considerable time before i…

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Useful Info at War College On Molecular, Lean, et al

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XI No. 4 – March 15, 2004 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: When the nation’s leading laboratory administrators and pathologists gather in New Orleans on April 27- 28, they will get the best and latest developments in laboratory management. From Aetna’s National Medical Director to the former Chief of the Industry Guidance Branch …

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