By R. Lewis Dark, from the Volume XIV No. 6 - April 23, 2007 issue
SINCE THE END OF WORLD WAR II, the dominant practice model for the pathology profession has been the private group practice. Outside of academia and a few other settings, the vast majority of pathologists practiced laboratory medicine as physician-partners in a medical group.
During this same period, the pathology profession’s major defender was the College of
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XIII No. 15 - November 6, 2006 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Information on the year-to-year change in average total cash compensation for physicians shows that income is not keeping pace with inflation. That is not news to the physician community. However, pathologists continue to earn compensation that is above the midpoint average for 16 specialties. Compensation is rising swiftly for those pathologists with specific
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XI No. 15 - November 1, 2004 issue
“Growing interest in ways to link a pathologist’s productivity to his/her compensation makes this a widely-discussed topic within many pathology group practices.” –Dennis Padget
CEO SUMMARY: Part Three continues THE DARK REPORT’S series on measuring pathologist productivity. In this installment, pathology practice consultant Dennis Padget identifies different approaches to appropriately link pathologist productivity with compensation. After
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XI No. 14 - October 11, 2004 issue
“Conflict in groups stems from trying to use one measurement system to meet all practice goals. This is the pitfall to avoid.” —Dennis Padget
CEO SUMMARY: Productivity measurement systems are widely used outside the healthcare industry to better manage operations and to incentivize staff. Many pathology groups have a gnawing feeling that they should be looking
By Robert Michel, from the Volume XI No. 5 - April 5, 2004 issue
WILL BUSINESS BE BETTER for AmeriPath, Inc. as a private company than it was as a publicly-traded firm? Its 2003 financial report indicates some interesting challenges, many common to all laboratories.
First, a look at basic numbers. AmeriPath’s net revenues grew from $478.8 million in 2002 to $485.0 million in 2003. That’s a growth rate of
By Robert Michel, from the Volume X No. 11 - August 18, 2003 issue
CEO SUMMARY: During the next two years, two of every three pathology group practices will see a change in pathologists, either through new hires or by resignation and retirement. These events fundamentally change the financial situation of the group, but since most groups are organized under the business models of 1980s medicine, they struggle to
By Robert Michel, from the Volume VII No. 16 - November 13, 2000 issue
CEO SUMMARY: It’s another example of consolidation in the anatomic pathology marketplace. AmeriPath, Inc.’s acquisition of Inform DX, Inc. positions the company to do as much as $350 million in revenues next year. By acquiring Inform DX, AmeriPath also gains entry into six more states. The financial performance of both companies is another sign that
By Robert Michel, from the Volume V No. 4 - March 23, 1998 issue
CEO SUMMARY: Historically, there was virtually no market for buying and selling pathology practices. That is rapidly changing as the first pathology practice management (PPM) companies enter the marketplace. Their business plan requires them to acquire pathology practices if they are to grow and prosper. In the first installment of this special two-part series, we
