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R.
Lewis Dark: Anatomic Pathology May Be "Hot" Opportunity
Every now and then, it helps to stand back and look at the big picture. On pages
9-14 in this issue, you will read a unique assessment of the lab industry and pathology profession prepared by our Editor-In-Chief.
His analysis covers three points. First, he sorts the market for lab and pathology
testing into four segments, then identifies the major competitors in each market. That alone is interesting reading, because many lab executives and
pathologists may not realize that there have been fundamental and deep-reaching changes in competition.
Second, he "guess-timates" market shares for each market segment. That's
a tough challenge because, as most of us know, comprehensive and accurate numbers for total lab testing in the United States are tough to come by.
Third, our Editor offers observations and predictions about the future evolution
of the competitive marketplace for clinical lab testing and anatomic pathology services. In particular, he notes that competition for physicians' office
testing is increasingly a battle between the two national lab and hospital/health system lab outreach programs in city after city around the country.
Editor Michel believes that the era of the local, pathologist-owned independent commercial laboratory has ended.
But what I found most intriguing is his analysis of the anatomic pathology (AP) marketplace.
He estimates that physicians' office-originated AP specimens are a $3 billion market. Notably, the two blood brothers, AmeriPath, DIANON Systems, Impath, and UroCor,
combined, have an estimated $914 million, almost one-third, of this market already.
I'd say the success of national AP companies at capturing ever-growing numbers of specimens from the docs' offices in recent years is an important development.
There's a good argument that, at this moment, anatomic pathology is the "hot" market in diagnostic services. For local anatomic pathology groups,
that spells both danger and opportunity. A "do-nothing" strategy may cause them to lose their local revenue base. A proactive marketing strategy
can provide financial stability and growth.
DIANON Aquires UroCor and Boosts Urology Share
DIANON Systems becomes the "big dog"
in the market for urology-based AP services
CEO
Summary: Following years of intense competition for the diagnostic testing business of office-based urologists, DIANON Systems and UroCor
will now join forces. The recently-announced merger creates a powerhouse anatomic pathology company in the urology-based diagnostics services market.
This merger also demonstrates that the market for anatomic pathology services remain robust.
8 "Must Have" Features For Web
Lab Test Reports
Early-adopter labs learn important
lessons about choosing the right Web-accessed system
CEO
Summary: A growing number of laboratories have implemented Web-accessed lab test reporting for their office-based physician clients. Having participated in the design,
sale and installation of many of these systems, Cory Fishkin gained valuable insights into the "do's and don'ts" of Web-accessed lab test resulting
reporting. In this first of several features, Fishkin identifies eight "must have" features.
Analysis of Lab Testing Market Reveals
Competitive Shifts
Special Intelligence Briefing
CEO
Summary: Even as public lab and anatomic pathology companies enjoy sustained growth in specimen volumes and revenues, fundamental shifts in the basic marketplace
have changed the competitive environment. Surprisingly, the most open market segment is anatomic pathology specimens referred by physicians' offices.
Hospital inpatient and outpatient testing continues to be a limited growth opportunity for commercial labs, while competition for routine testing from docs'
offices is increasingly between hospital lab outreach programs and the two national laboratories.
Lab Industry Briefs
Rotary Clubs Launch Mexico-based
Cervical Screening Efforts
IVAX Diagnostics Becomes Newest
Public Instrument Vendor
Myriad Genetics Announces Deal
with European Laboratory
LabOne Snagged in Lawsuit Over Drug-of-Abuse
Testing
Aetna Struggles with Leakage and Underpriced Premiums
Intelligence:
Late-Breaking Lab News
Tenet Declares Aging Baby Boomers Now Driving Health Service Demand:
Tenet Healthcare Corp may be the first to publicly declare that aging baby boomers are finally pushing up demand for healthcare services.
APL Has a New Name: A respected name in the independent commercial lab industry is disappearing.
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