Experts Urge Patients to Exercise Choices When Dealing With Lab Services

The issue of healthcare choice is one that resonates with just about everyone. But, while most of us would balk at the idea of trusting just any internist or pediatrician with our families health, few healthcare consumers take an active role in choosing their pathologists -- the physicians who analyze everything from routine specimens to potentially life-threatening biopsies.

New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) January 21, 2005 -- The issue of healthcare choice is one that resonates with just about everyone. But, while most of us would balk at the idea of trusting just any internist or pediatrician with our families health, few healthcare consumers take an active role in choosing their pathologists -- the physicians who analyze everything from routine specimens to potentially life-threatening biopsies.

Since so much of each patients care regimen is based on the results of the laboratory test results, experts are now urging consumers to be just as vigilant when choosing a pathologist as they are in choosing their primary care physicians or specialists. This is especially key, they say, when dealing with the multi-billion dollar megalab" industry, where many of the countrys most popular health insurance plans either require or encourage patients and their doctors to choose their services to receive the best cost advantage.

All pathologists are not created equal," says Robert A Sable, MD, FACP, FACG, a New York City-based gastroenterologist. At some national megalabs," for example, the qualifications -- and even the identity -- of the pathologist reading the specimens are nearly impossible for the primary care physician to determine. This makes it difficult for physicians to confer with the pathologist to discuss the results of a laboratory test or clarify any questions or issues that might have arisen during the process. Dr. Sable confirms, In cases where a serious diagnosis such as cancer has been made, the next decisions we make regarding surgery, treatment options, et cetera are critical to the patients well-being."

Dr. George Hollenberg, a leading pathologist in the New York area and founder of Acupath Laboratories, points out that bigger is not always better when it comes to laboratory services. At Acupath, for instance, many staff members specialize in a particular area of pathology, assuring the primary care physician and the patient that a qualified expert is available for everything from gastroenterology samples to breast biopsies. Gerald H. Becker, M.D., LTD., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.G., a consulting gastroenterologist based in Phoenix, Ariz., confirms, I much prefer to use a hospital-based laboratory or an independent lab, where I know there are pathologists on staff who specialize in GI pathology." Dr. Sable agrees. In instances where the insurance company gives us a choice, we prefer to choose a laboratory based on the reputation and skills of the pathologist, as well as his or her availability to discuss results, answer questions, and provide further insights if needed."

But what if your insurance company doesnt give you a choice? Dr. Hollenberg advises that patients talk with their primary care physicians about the following options, which can make it easier for both of you to ensure quality lab results the next time you need pathology services:

- Talk about the doctor-laboratory relationship. Some primary care physicians have been fortunate enough to establish an effective relationship with even the larger pathology laboratories. How confident is your doctor in the pathologist who will be analyzing your specimens? If follow-up with the lab is needed, how quickly will they respond? The answers to these questions can either put you at ease, or identify issues that need to be addressed.

- Ask for Electronic Transfer. If your PCP and the lab can communicate electronically, ask that they do so. With electronic transfer, your doctor should receive photos of the actual slide and corresponding analysis and reports, making it easier to ascertain where clarification -- or a second opinion -- might be needed.

- Explore your options. If insurance company dictates are the driving factor for using megalabs, research the costs and benefits of using an independent laboratory for your pathology needs. You can also ask if your doctor refers other patients work to an independent or hospital laboratory, or if he or she can recommend one.

- Get a second opinion. For life-threatening results, insist on a second opinion by an independent pathologist. Reliability is important, both for doctors and for patients," Dr. Sable says. Seeking out a more reliable option -- particularly in cases where your life is at risk -- can give both you and your doctor more confidence in your treatment decisions.

About Dr. George Hollenberg
Dr. George Hollenberg, M.D. is an authority in the fields of pathology, clinical pathology and dermatopathology with expertise in the areas of dysplastic nevi, melanoma, prostate and gastrointestinal cancer. Board-certified in Pathology and Dermatopathology, Dr. Hollenberg is a Fellow of the College of American Pathologists, The American Society of Dermatopathology and the AMA. He has published articles on skin, prostate and gastrointestinal cancer, and is the Consultant in Dermatopathology to The North Shore University Hospital Center. As the founding director of Acupath Laboratories, Inc., Dr. Hollenberg supervises the analysis of tens of thousands of biopsies per year, using the latest cutting-edge technology in histology and immunocytochemistry, as well as the latest advances in computerized report preparation.

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