PHYSICIANS office RESOURCE BUYER ’ S GUIDE - 2017
Irwin Z . Rothenberg , MBA , MS , CLS ( ASCP ) is a Technical Writer & Quality Advisor for COLA Resources , Inc .
LabOratory Changing Roles and Responsibilities of the Clinical Consultant
By Irwin Z . Rothenberg , MBA , MS , CLS ( ASCP )
The practice of laboratory medicine is undergoing rapid change , both leading as well as reflecting changes in our healthcare system . These changes are driven by new technologies that now enable the practice of personalized and evidence-based medicine using molecular and genomic testing ; comprehensive electronic data collection and integration ; and the vertical and horizontal integration of all components of health care .
The laboratory is in the center of these massive changes , with clinical laboratory test results a key factor in 60 % - 70 % of all medical decisions . The rapid pace of laboratory innovation and the ever-increasing breadth and depth of medical information has led to knowledge gaps among the clinicians responsible for ordering these tests . The assumption that most requesting physicians are fully capable of interpreting all laboratory test results is no longer valid .
As a result , laboratories have had to transform from a passive clinical service provider to an active partner in patient diagnosis , treatment , and management . Clinical laboratory consulting has now become an integral and necessary part of routine laboratory services , and the role and responsibilities of the Clinical Consultant have grown along with this .
Several studies have shown the value of laboratory assistance to attending physicians with test selection and interpretation . These suggest a wide variation in test ordering practices for similar indications . In regards to test utilization , a study by Zhi et al , suggested that the mean over- and underutilization rates for laboratory testing are 20.6 % and 44.8 %, respectively . Factors that may explain the ordering pattern disparity include the lack of knowledge of test characteristics and inaccurate interpretation of results .
Additionally , rapid advances in diagnostics make it challenging for clinicians to stay up to date with the most effective testing strategies and algorithms for all areas of
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