Changing the Dynamics of Quality Laboratory Medicine?Transparency Through Smartphone Technology Assures Accuracy in DIAGNOSIS

Our modern society is constantly changing through the influx of smartphone technology.  This truly allows patients to take charge of their health care, and partner with a physician or other health care provider.

The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act was created initially in the early eighties (’80s) to bring some sense of consistency and uniformity to clinical laboratory testing process (We suggest for further information that one reviews the history of CLIA program).  While productive and practical standards, procedures, and protocols were created at the initiation of CLIA, there is still lack of transparency and accountability through medical laboratory testing; and we, believe this is primarily due to lack of appropriate communication between healthcare providers, and even patients. Early on in the CLIA standardization, and In an attempt to improve on this communication, hospitals and health insurance companies, as well as other organizations and third party entities decided to form BIASED, RESTRICTIVE,  AND SHOULD BE UNLAWFUL EXCLUSIVE SERVICE CONTRACT-relationship with a Pathologist and/or a Group of Pathologists to oversee the general operation of Clinical, Medical Laboratory Testing.  This contracted pathologist or group of pathologists led to the creation of the MEDICAL DIRECTOR of the Clinical Laboratory Operation, and  essentially prevented competition with other independent pathologists within the hospital or institutional setting The Medical Director was placed in charge of selecting the personnel  which would staff the medical laboratory, including sub-specialized pathologists.

Patients were left with inability to select specific pathologists to provide direct medical laboratory services to them in this regard.  Often times, this lack of Patient’s ability to choose provider for medical laboratory services placed patients in position of NOT being able to DEMAND QUALITY AND ACCURACY, as well as to control cost for their health care services with respect to the use of the Clinical Laboratory Testing, including diagnostic medical procedures.

 

With the initiation of smartphone technology and the various safe and secure operations that are currently used through smartphone technology, accountability and transparency can be assured for not only accuracy of test results, but also to share experiences that will enhance accuracy as well as to reduce cost through repetition of testing, for instance. 

The practice of teleradiology, as a parallel,  has gained wide popularity in this regard, and creates a level of competition that ensures lowering cost for these type services, which can be opined by various groups of radiologists simply through an internet connection, bringing world wide quality to patient no matter where he/she might be.  WE WANT AND SHOULD DEMAND THIS OPEN MEDICAL PRACTICE FOR PATHOLOGY and the MEDICAL LABORATORY TESTING OPERATION.  We, at MDC-Atlanta, believe that patients should be given the authority to choose which appropriately licensed healthcare professional provides laboratory medicine and pathology services to them, as they are allowed to choose internal medicine physicians, surgeons, and other health care providers, including medical specialists, to offer a wide range of clinical services directly to them.

Here are some practical examples of benefit for using TELEPATHOLOGY and TELELABORATORY SERVICES:

1. Patients CHOOSE who provides pathology and/or laboratory medical services to them, be it as an inpatient or outpatient.

2. Patients  have a “say so” about affordability for pathology and/or laboratory services

3. Immediate Second Opinion by World Renown Experts are available through Safe and Secured Smartphone Technology or other online services, with transparency and accountability of transmissible opinion/diagnosis/advice

4. Convenience of Diagnosis or Recommendation for treatment and/or further care improves turn around time so that patients get the needed care in a timely fashion.

Delayed Care May Lead to Advanced Diseases, as in a cancerous tumor which metastasizes or spreads to bone, liver, lymph node, and lung.

 

WE AT MDC ATLANTA REMAIN COMMITTED TO KEEPING OUR PATIENTS INFORMED FOR BETTER QUALITY, SAFE, AND AFFORDABLE MEDICAL CARE

CHOOSE DIRECT-CARE AND START MANAGING THE QUALITY and AFFORDABILITY OF YOUR HEALTHCARE TODAY

THROUGH COMPLETE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written By: Dr. Jackson Gates

Dr. Jackson L. Gates, MD serves as our Founder & President of Medical Diagnostic Choices. He has personally diagnosed, treated, and reviewed well over 100,000 combined, clinical and laboratory medicine cases over his community-based medical practice career.

August 17, 2014

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