By Robert Michel, from the Volume XX No. 11 - August 13, 2013 issue
There is a billion-dollar laboratory acquisition underway in Ontario, Canada. LifeLabs Medical Services is moving ahead with its planned purchase of CML HealthCare for US$917 million. The deal was made public on June 25 and, because it represents a major consolidation of the province’s two largest clinical laboratory organizations, there have been some critics. However,
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVIII No. 13 - September 26, 2011 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Clinical laboratories and pathology groups have a new tool to use for interfacing their LIS (laboratory information systems) with the electronic health record (EHR) systems of their office-based physician clients. It is ELINCS, an IT standard designed to support electronic lab test orders and lab test reporting. The California HealthCare Foundation sponsored the
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XVIII No. 12 - September 6, 2011 issue
CEO SUMMARY: In Macon, Georgia, an innovative effort by a regional extension center and a health information exchange (HIE) will level the playing field for hospital labs and independent labs in the state. Their goal is to build a secure and flexible clinical integration platform known as a “lab hub.” This common interface will allow
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XIII No. 14 - October 16, 2006 issue
“This 10-year agreement is unique in the laboratory industry. It speaks to the long-term commitment of both parties.”—Brad Smith, Executive Vice President, Laboratory Corporation of America
CEO SUMMARY: It was unprecedented when UnitedHealth Group announced an exclusive, 10-year laboratory testing services agreement with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings. This is a high-stakes development for both companies.
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XII No. 2 - January 24, 2005 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Among other things, we declare the end to the heyday of the independent commercial lab company which offers a broad test menu to all types of office-based physicians. In its place springs forth the specialty or niche testing laboratory. Small and focused on a specific number of reference and esoteric tests, the number
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XI No. 15 - November 1, 2004 issue
CEO SUMMARY: In British Columbia, two commercial laboratory companies are intense competitors. Yet, beginning in 2002, they jointly offered a single Web browser-based system for lab test results reporting. LOINC was the tool which linked their individual lab data repositories to the PathNET portal. Now the provincial health ministry has authorized the use of PathNET
