Podiatrist Lab Director?

[MLT2MT2DO]

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I was preparing for our upcoming CAP inspection today and was sifting through CLIA and was taken aback when I ran across this:

(2) Be a doctor of medicine, a
doctor of osteopathy or doctor of podiatric medicine licensed to practice medicine,
osteopathy or podiatry in the State in which the laboratory is located; and
i) Have at least one year of laboratory training during medical
residency (for example, physicians certified either in hematology
or hematology and medical oncology by the American Board of Internal
Medicine); or
(ii) Have at least 2 years of experience directing or supervising
high complexity testing

Why is this allowed and does this actually exist anywhere?
Does this strike anyone else as odd?

 

[KeratinPearls]

I was preparing for our upcoming CAP inspection today and was sifting through CLIA and was taken aback when I ran across this:



Why is this allowed and does this actually exist anywhere?
Does this strike anyone else as odd?

You're a premed and doing CAP inspections?

 

[rhmtascp]

He's an MLT (medical lab tech), going on to become an MT (medical technologist), going on to become a DO. He's probably getting ready to get inspected, rather than inspecting himself. My impression anyway.

 

[KeratinPearls]

I was preparing for our upcoming CAP inspection today and was sifting through CLIA and was taken aback when I ran across this:



Why is this allowed and does this actually exist anywhere?
Does this strike anyone else as odd?

Just wondering...only docs (MD, DO) can be lab directors? How about PhDs?

 

[icpshootyz]

Just wondering...only docs (MD, DO) can be lab directors? How about PhDs?

I believe PhD'-only's can be clinical lab directors. I know the Boston Children's Hospital chemistry lab director is PhD only. We have some non-MD, PhD's on staff in my program as well, albeit not the overall lab directors. From what I've seen Chemistry and Micro do this, I'm not sure I've ever seen PhD-only's working as Heme or BB directors.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

You're a premed and doing CAP inspections?

I'm a chemistry/hematology supervisor for my lab. As mentioned I was going through CAP/CLIA checklists as we are due to be inspected this quarter.

Also yes, PHDs who have at least 2 years of experience Clinical lab supervision and hold a biology/chemistry/CLS doctorate can be lab directors as well, I just cut off the quote at that point.

I was just curious as to how podiatrists became viable to be a lab director. It seems fairly random to me.

 

[lipomas]

I am not entirely sure. But there is probably one guy out there who has a big podiatry practice with their own selective lab, and they put that in there for him. I don't understand how the podiatrist would get the requisite laboratory training to qualify though, but who knows. These regulations always sound way more specific than they actually are, because you later find the fine print which gives an exception.

 

[green mantis]

I was preparing for our upcoming CAP inspection today and was sifting through CLIA and was taken aback when I ran across this:



Why is this allowed and does this actually exist anywhere?
Does this strike anyone else as odd?

Why would this be odd? The training one needs to become a podiatrist isn't that different from your typical MD/DO. You go to 4 years of podiatric medical school (2 yrs of basic sciences + 2 yrs of clinical sciences) & follow that up w/ residency. Aside from MD/DO, I'm not sure which other health profession requires residency to obtain a state license. For dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, pharmacists, etc, it's optional.


----- Antony

 

[Pingu]

I am not entirely sure. But there is probably one guy out there who has a big podiatry practice with their own selective lab, and they put that in there for him. I don't understand how the podiatrist would get the requisite laboratory training to qualify though, but who knows. These regulations always sound way more specific than they actually are, because you later find the fine print which gives an exception.

To be director of a high complexity lab (if you are not path) requires either 1 year of laboratory training during residency OR 2 years directing or supervising high complexity testing.

As far as I know, the only other residency/fellowship that could satisfy the one year requirement is heme/onc. I'm pretty sure most people are using a very broad interpretation of the 2 years directing or supervising high complexity testing in order to meet CLIA.

More disturbing is the grandfather clause. If you were qualified under state law to direct a laboratory in the state before 1992, you can direct a high complexity lab. When you take into consideration that it was the laxity of regulations on labs that lead to CLIA, almost any M.D. practicing before 1992 can direct a high complexity lab. Sure makes those 2 years of CP training seem like a waste.😱

It's just another way that other specialties are earning money that could go to a pathologist.