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[RATM2010]

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Hi all,

I am starting pod school this august and I have a question. I have a medical lab background and when i shadowed my podiatrist, I noticed he did no lab work. in fact, I don't think i even saw a lab on site. Just curious, how much lab work (CBC, BMP,etc) you you incorporate into your practice? Thanks!

 

[PADPM]

Very few DPM's perform lab work in their offices due to tougher government regulations such as CLIA. It's simply not financially feasible and many insurance carriers require certain labs, etc. Unlike most internists or other PCP's, we don't generally perform as much blood work on a daily basis, therefore refer labs out and as specialists, we often have to send to a specific lab.

Even some GP's/FP's are no longer performing lab work in the office.

However, we do send patients for lab work on a regular basis and there isn't a day that goes by when I don't send a patient for some type of blood work, it's simply not performed in our office at the present time.