FOR PATIENTS: 

Our LABORATORY MEDICAL SERVICE is designed for those individuals who have direct-access to their laboratory test results, and who desire an interpretation of the laboratory test results via online video & audio conference or via our direct person to person, mobile medical care(MEDICAL HOME). 

In certain instances, after reviewing the lab test results from an accredited and appropriately licensed laboratory facility, we can directly provide a valuable 1st or 2nd  medical opinion based on previously prepared diagnostic material.  For example, our physician will conduct a reading from  previously prepared pathology slides in order to give you a simple, plain English interpretation.  On occasions, one of our physicians will accompany you to a qualified physician office to collect blood and/or tissue samples.  These samples are analyzed and processed by MDC-Atlanta and its affiliate laboratories for definitive DIAGNOSES.

FOR IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES:

OUR MOBILE PHYSICIAN-PATHOLOGIST WILL GIVE YOUR DOCTOR OR RADIOLOGIST AN IMMEDIATE DIAGNOSTIC INTERPRETATION OF YOUR PATHOLOGICAL TEST RESULTS AT THE PATIENT'S BED-SIDE WITHIN TWO (2) HOURS AFTER COLLECTING THE SAMPLE. 

THESE RAPID DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES INCLUDE THOSE FROM CT-GUIDED, FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATIONS OF DEEP SOFT TISSUE OR ORGANIC MASSES, OR FROM FROZEN SECTION DIAGNOSES. 

NOW THAT IS MOBILE SERVICE THAT YOU CAN DEPEND ON, AND GET YOUR PRELIMINARY TEST RESULTS IMMEDIATELY, WITHOUT WAITING FOR DAYS TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE CANCER OR NOT IN MOST INSTANCES. THIS ALSO BRINGS ABOUT EFFICIENCY WHEREBY YOU CAN PLAN DEFINITIVE MEDICAL TREATMENT AND/OR SURGERY MUCH SOONER THAN LATER.

The above picture is an example of a typical frozen-section room where most rapid diagnoses from skin, breast, thyroid, lymph node, gastrointestinal, etc, can be accurately determined with 99% accuracy and predictability.

FROZEN-SECTION DIAGNOSIS with TOUCH IMPRINT/SMEAR or Stat CYTOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS: Scientically Validated (99% Accurate Results) which saves the patient TIME and MONEY (An efficient and effective way to practice laboratory medicine).

The efficiency of this type practice lowers cost to you, the patient, to as little as 175 dollars, as compared to many hundreds of dollars more by way of duplicate testing by a free standing laboratory or hospital-based laboratory service.

FOR DOCTORS OR NURSE PRACTITIONERS:

We provide direct mobile diagnostic services for the convenience of your patients by visiting your patients at the patient's home or at the physician's/nurse practitioner's office.

These services include:

 Fine-Needle Aspiration of breast, thyroid, lymph node, and soft tissue, as well as CT-guided/ultrasound guided Needle biopsy with immediate preliminary diagnostic interpretation

Conventional Pap-smear  slide review (less expensive and just as effective)

Detection Rates, Per-Protocol Analysis: Liquid Based Cytology vs Pap Test

There was also a correlation between the baseline cytological result and the verified follow-up outcomes for both liquid-based cytology and conventional Pap tests. The PPVs of both modalities were also comparable, write the authors, because the "crude and adjusted PPV ratios never differed significantly from unity, irrespective of the cytological or verified outcome cut-off value."

or Liquid-based Pap-smear slide review

 Superficial skin biopsy

STAT-DIAGNOSIS by thick-tissue method or cytological imprint, on-site for esophageal, stomach, intestinal, or liver biopsy, breast biopsy, as well as prostate biopsy and urinary bladder biopsy

 Direct Personable Consultation with Laboratory Medicine Expert Regarding General Diagnostic Laboratory Medical Tests

 Second-opinion, Review of Diagnostic Pathology Slides

STAT-FROZEN SECTION DIAGNOSIS WITHIN TWO (2) HOURS FROM COLLECTION OF SAMPLE TO DIAGNOSIS

Here are the steps you would take to initiate our Laboratory Medicine Service:

FOR PATIENTS:

1) Call Dr. Gates to request an interpretation of any laboratory test result received from a "patient direct-access" laboratory testing facility, or to request a second opinion with regards to previously submitted pathology interpretation; you will be advised to complete a "Consent for Pathologist's Review." You might also be requested to have all relevant pathology or lab data to be submitted to Medical Diagnostic Choices, Atlanta, Georgia, from the Original Laboratory or Pathology Practice.  You can also call Dr. Gates to schedule an appointment to have certain diagnostic procedures done in the privacy of your home.  You will receive an immediate preliminary verbal diagnostic report of the results from Dr. Gates.  The collected sample will then be analyzed and processed by MDC-Atlanta for definitive DIAGNOSES.

2) Provide complete mailing address and/or other contact information.  A final pathological interpretation and report by Dr. Gates will be confidentially forwarded to you in detailed simple, plain ENGLISH, as well as recommendation for further clinical evaluation and follow-up.

FOR DOCTORS OR NURSE PRACTITIONERS:

1. Call Dr. Gates to schedule an appointment as well as to request Diagnostic Laboratory Medical Services; you will be advised to complete a "Referral Form For Consultation by Laboratory Medicine Doctor."  You might also be requested to have all relevant, previous  pathology or laboratory test data to be submitted to Medical Diagnostic Choices, Atlanta, Georgia, from your patient's medical records.  As with any physician referrals, Dr. Gates will perform a directed medical history assessment, as well as a targeted physical examination assessment on your patient for completeness of medical care evaluation.  If a sample is collected from your patient, it will be handled and processed by MDC-Atlanta and its affiliate laboratories.  The prepared final diagnostic material will be reviewed and a definitive interpretation of the diagnostic features, including photomicrographs highlighting salient diagnostic features of the lesion, will be reported in a complete final laboratory medicine report by Dr. Gates.

2. The final laboratory medicine or pathology report by Dr. Gates will be confidentially forwarded to you, the referring physician or nurse practitioner, as well as recommendation for further diagnostic evaluation, management and/or appropriate  follow-up of care.

We strive to provide references from the current medical literature with regards to evidence-based support as to how OUR final diagnostic interpretation was derived.

Fee for Service (Cash only-MDC-Atlanta):

1. Uncomplicated interpretation of lab tests for patient with direct-access to lab test results: $15 U.S. dollars

2. Complicated interpretation of lab tests for patient with direct-access to lab test results: $50 U.S. dollars

3. Second Opinion/review of pathology slides, with discussion of current medical literature: $250-$500 U.S. dollars

4. Stat, Frozen- section diagnosis,  and cytological evaluation: $175-$300 U.S dollars, depending on complication of case to be explained prior to initiating service

5. Routine Pathology and Cytology Evaluation: $50-$150 U.S. dollars, depending on type of tissue or cytological sample received.  Final fee may change at discretion of pathologist-practitioner

6. Special studies, Pathology and Cytology Evaluation: $150-$500 U.S dollars, depending on type of tests performed.

Note: Additional fees may apply for mobile service, expert-consultation and molecular studies/flow- cytometry studies, which will be explained prior to visit, or prior to sending case off for second opinion or additional diagnostic studies.

Exam and Procedure Room, MDC-Atlanta