Any thoughts on being an "Aggressive" Pathologist.

[Torsed]

---

Members don't see this ad.

This might be an odd thread, most likely it will be interesting to see what sort of responses it gathers. My question is why pathologists can't use aggressive marketing, like urologists (we've all seen the billboards on highways advocating vasectomy reversal) or even PI lawyers. I can just imagine having a big billboard of all your partners glaring down at rush hour interstate traffic with the big words, "Make sure your biopsy is read by OUR pathologists, talk to your physician on WHO is looking out for YOU." That may be a cheap way to combat pod labs and the group across town, but could it work? Perhaps. I've seen clincians switch pathology groups and the odd thing is that most of the partners just shrug their shoulders and say 'thats business we have more clients so it won't be a loss.' I just think that is unacceptable thinking.

I can just imagine there are some laws that may prevent this type of marketing, who knows, maybe pathologists are just meek people (unless you are a young faculty member struggling to get an RO1 grant to keep your spot). Everytime I hear about the whole SurePath / ThinPrep marketing techniques targeting OB-GYN's I just wonder why we do not seem more aggressive. I would like to hear your views.

 

[yaah]

Some do this. There is a particular large reference lab who actually goes to clinicians and tells them that unless they hire their lab, many of their diagnoses will be wrong.

 

[drfunktacular]

I know of at least one private company who has a billboard in their local airport. Their practice is thriving, perhaps it works.