Path vs. Histology

[desmangt]

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I have a question for some of the older more experienced pathologists. I know that the histology lab is usually a separate entity from the path department, but how does private practice get their specimens processed? Do big labs like Quest and Lab One have PAs that gross the big specimens, or is it just biopsies? Do surgeons send specimens from their private OR suites to these labs? I mean histology wise.

 

[desmangt]

I have a question for some of the older more experienced pathologists. I know that the histology lab is usually a separate entity from the path department, but how does private practice get their specimens processed? Do big labs like Quest and Lab One have PAs that gross the big specimens, or is it just biopsies? Do surgeons send specimens from their private OR suites to these labs? I mean histology wise.

Nobody has an idea how this works? Do these private practice guys only sign out biopsies? Unless they own a lab, how do they process their specimens?

 

[LADoc00]

Nobody has an idea how this works? Do these private practice guys only sign out biopsies? Unless they own a lab, how do they process their specimens?

Private prac groups own their histo labs since most of the billable monies come from the technical component reimbursement. You would lose out on a huge source of income if you outsourced the histo. Still, some people with no business sense do it. Then wonder why their sorry butts live in a trailer park. Go figure huh.

 

[yaah]

Yeah, from what I understand most labs don't like to depend on others for the histology and technical aspects.

For places that do lots of prostate biopsies, e.g., from what I understand the specimens are sent in formalin to the lab, then processed in the normal way. You can mail anything these days.