A PROPATH Perspective … Krista Crews Executive Director

Keep in mind during these competitive times… The playing field is always changing. A lab is not a lab is not a lab. You can distinguish yourself with important constituencies.

Rules of the game … Payers will continue to look for and find ways to reduce reimbursement. Providers will continue to look for ways to augment their income – inside and outside of their specialty.

The field is always changing … The science of medicine New testing; new methods The business of medicine: new ways to expand a practice (or its income) Client billing In office clinical testing Pod laboratories In office anatomic pathology Next….

Find ways to stay in the game! Example: Remember when Paps were profitable? Commoditized Liquid-based entered and profitability returned Commoditization: Part II Redirect resources. Focus on other areas of specialization as battle sites change. Requires thought. Make the time.

The game will change … again … and again … Legislation Pricing Liability May not be the “easy money” it was made out to be

A lab … is not a lab … is not a lab ... Pathology group depth Collective in-house experience and training Ability to assess and monitor quality Special stain/study capabilities Patient safety through technology Barcoded requisitions, specimen containers, cassettes, slides Slide engravers to prevent manual labeling; duplicate handling Software/middleware for specimen and process tracking Advance technologies: RFID

Distinguish yourself with other important constituencies … Managed care Professional liability carriers Direct-to-patient Be visible. Be vocal.