| R. Lewis Dark:
Steps Toward the Globalization of Lab Medicine
PATHOLOGISTS AND LABORATORY EXECUTIVES in this country generally don't pay
much attention to what is happening to clinical laboratories and anatomic
pathology services in other countries. That is understandable, since there is lots
of change unfolding in the lab testing marketplace within this country.
On the other hand, if it is true that globalization of healthcare in general-
and laboratory testing specifically-is an emerging trend, then there is strategic
value in monitoring key developments in other developed countries. Today, I'd
like to share a short list of unfolding events affecting lab testing services in several
countries. At a minimum, it provides evidence and insight that the globalization
of lab testing looms.
Let's start in the British Isles. THE DARK REPORT has briefed its clients and
readers about the 100%outsourcing of Ireland's Pap testing to an American lab
company. That was followed by the Irish government's announced plans to consolidate
hospital testing into a handful of central labs, along with construction
of two stand-alone lab facilities to serve office-based physicians.
In the United Kingdom, the new coalition government has announced the
goal of reducing healthcare spending by £30 billion—a 20%reduction fromthe
current level. For pathology and lab testing, the budget reduction is £750 million
per year.At the same time, the National Health Service (NHS) is in active negotiations
with private organizations and in vitro diagnostics (IVD) companies to
explore and establish new models of integrated and consolidated regional laboratory
organizations.
Canada's issues seem to center around the quality of anatomic pathology
services. In recent weeks, news stories have covered the findings of commissions
and review teams tasked with identifying why patients in some hospitals
received inaccurate lab test results. Consolidation of lab testing services is also
ongoing in several provinces.
In Australia, an American private equity company is poised to acquire a private
hospital company that happens to own one of Australia's largest pathology
companies. If the new owner were to decide to divest this pathology business,
it is likely to roil the lab testing marketplace down under. Also during this time,
the federal health program has instituted cuts in funding for lab testing services.
At some point, these restructuring and cost saving efforts will encourage a
government health program to invite foreign lab companies into their country.
That may be one likely path toward the globalization of laboratory testing.
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New "Meaningful Use"
Rules Are Easier on Docs
Predictions are that some EMR systems
will not be easy to integrate with the lab's LIS
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
clinical labs and pathology groups. One EMR expert says that’s
because some EMR systems will do a poor job of interfacing
lab test orders and lab test reporting with the lab’s LIS.
Guest Opinion: Lab Industry Would Be Smart
To Issue EMR Report Card
360,000 physicians are about to adopt EMRs,
which means labs will need to build interfaces
Actions of Ex-Employees
Can Breach Lab Security
Theft of valuable lab assets is common and
costly, but labs can easily protect themselves
CEO SUMMARY: Labmanagers should take steps to protect
patient data and proprietary information. This includes customer
lists, payer contracts, customer-specific pricing, sales
force compensation information, lab testing intellectual property,
and protected health information. Technology now makes
it easy for a departing employee to collect company data by
moving it to a USB drive or even an iPod.
Dark Index: Specimen Volume Declines Reported
By Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp
For second quarter, outside data indicates
there were 5% fewer patient visits to doctors
Lab Law Updates: AAB's Suit Prevails over NY State
Following 11 Years of Litigation
INTELLIGENCE: Late & Latent
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