Clinical Laboratory Medicine as the Emerging Healthcare Partner

Abstract

The clinical pathologist/laboratory medicine physician serves as the ideal health care partner to synergize with the patient-physician-unit to temper curious results, obviate the “light switch” effect, provide guidance on current and emerging test utilization and management, navigate the DTC marketplace and educate patient and physician alike as required, and to ultimately incorporate lab test results into actual optimization of patient care. It is through this approach that the patient-physician-laboratorian triumvirate can maximize the experience to positively affect patient centric, evidenced based, fiscally responsible healthcare in the ever-changing medical landscape.