Percentage of all lab tests performed in the United States 2
60 % hospital labs 35 % other labs
5 % physician office labs
ovations to keep staff happy and provide flexibility( standing desks)
3. Problem: Hospital executives don’ t understand the value that lab brings“ We need to show how we influence everything around us: surgery, outcomes, and patient satisfaction.”
In the US, around 14 billion clinical lab tests are performed annually, making them the most used medical benefits. In clinical laboratories, more than 30 % of lab tests are specialty lab tests. 3
Solutions:
• Leading projects that span departments( PPID, consolidation)
• Creating positive relationships with other departments
• Hiring data analysts to create meaning from numbers
• Keeping their seat at the table to consistently communicate / share the work lab is doing
• Creating and expanding outreach programs
Problem: Trying to stay up to date with everchanging lab technology for better patient experience and outcomes“ What steps can we take to break away from conventional thinking?”
Solutions:
• Looking to vendor partners for outside-the-box thinking specific to a given facility
• Cost analysis for automation per test / per employee, to justify for budgeting
• Focus on educating staff to work at the top of their license
• Analyzers and automation line( focus on histology, PCR and mass spec)
What are the key takeaways? Lab leaders know that 70 % of healthcare decisions depend on laboratory test results, 4 and they are passionate about what they do.
• They deeply care about their staff ' s needs and potential
• Keeping up with the latest technology is challenging,
70 %
of healthcare decisions depend on lab test results 4
and they rely on their pathologists, physicians and vendors to help
• Data is the currency of healthcare, and some labs hire FTEs to help manage and digest that data. When you don’ t own your lab, you don’ t own your data— somebody else does.
• Labs benefit when they leverage other departments( for example, working with nurses to standardize COVID swabs)
• There is a continuous focus on improving operational efficiencies and services
• Lab leaders want transparency and communication from their vendor partners
Do these themes and takeaways resonate with you and your team? Have you tried any of the solutions mentioned? Even with disruptors such as evolving care models, evolving payment models and increasing patient involvement, it’ s clear that optimizing people, process and technology remains key to success. Your vendor partner can help you get there.
Why medical lab technology is so important
Risks of manual processes
• Safety
• Financial
• Staffing
• Quality + Sustainability: More manual processes mean sending more references
• Regulations: Not meeting regulatory turnaround time
• Patient care: Increased length of stay and delay in diagnosis
Laboratory areas in need of automation
• Histology
• Anatomical pathology
• Feeder for digitalized slides
• PCR
Innovation ideas should come from the vendor
• Molecular panels
• Fluids testing
• Automated mass spec testing
References 1 Jim Davis.( 2023, March 16). Driving Sustainable Growth in a Post Pandemic World. Quest Diagnostics 2023 investor day presentation. https:// s2. q4cdn. com / 390454341 / files / doc _ presentations / 2023 / 03 / updated / DGX _ InvestorDay _ 23 _ JimDavis _ FINAL-1. pdf 2 Mark Schroeder, et al.( 2023, September 14). Diagnostics Laboratories. Laboratory Corporation of America 2023 investor day presentation. https:// ir. labcorp. com / static-files / b27fce6e-b6f2-4fb8-9143-421ff08531f7 3 Research and Markets.( 2024, February 22). United States Clinical Laboratory Tests Market Outlook & Forecasts, 2023 and 2024-2029- Telemedicine and Direct-To-Consumer Solutions Provide New Opportunities. Globe Newswire. https:// www. globenewswire. com / news-release / 2024 / 02 / 22 / 2833501 / 28124 / en / United-States-Clinical-Laboratory-Tests-Market-Outlook-Forecasts-2023-and-2024-2029-Telemedicine-and-Direct-To-Consumer-Solutions-Provide-New-Opportunities. html 4 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.( 2024, January 18). FDA and CMS Statement: Americans Deserve Accurate and Reliable Diagnostic Tests, Wherever They Are Made. https:// www. cms. gov / newsroom / press-releases / fda-and-cms-statement-americans-deserve-accurate-and-reliable-diagnostic-tests-wherever-they-are
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