Scenes From a Revolution: Laboratories Focus on Patients, Data, Technology and Strategic Partnerships

A revolution was plotted in Orlando this month. Over the course of four days, laboratory executives, pathologists, consultants, industry experts and others joined to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the laboratory industry. Common themes emerged including patient engagement, harnessing the power of data and improving information management and sharing, strategic partnerships and arrangements, and making the most of new technology. Pressure breeds innovation and a change in thinking, explained Neal Thornberry, Ph.D., a presenter at the conference and author of Innovation Judo: Disarming Roadblocks and Blockheads on the Path to Creativity, of which all attendees received a copy. Thus, reimbursement and regulatory pressures on laboratories are generating new ways of thinking and doing business.
Hospital outreach and molecular diagnostics The conference began with two workshops—the first focusing on hospital outreach and case studies that gathered data about current outreach programs, highlighting strategies, structures, problems encountered and successes. Some takeaways were that successful programs have control of their IT operations and interfacing capability, reduced expenses and reputations for service. Dr. Steven G. Brodie and Dr. Gyorgy Abel followed up with presentations on molecular diagnostics and new and more affordable technology arriving for sequencing. The caveat is that while the equipment may be more affordable, related data management and bioinformatics issues and explaining the clinical relevance can still present challenges.
Power to the patients Opening keynote speaker Harry Greenspun, M.D., Director of Deloitte’s Center for Health Solutions, noted the consumer is increasingly bearing more of the cost of health care and focuses more on the service aspect of the health care. He emphasized the need for laboratories to give the patient information that will allow them to make better choices about health care and the importance of gathering data and using it to make decisions about population health. He also queried whether health care providers are looking at the right data concerning patients and noted the relevance and value of data about purchasing habits, finances and other aspects of daily life that can inform health care delivery. Several other speakers carried this theme of patient engagement throughout the conference.
Using and sharing information the right way Discussion of data and information sharing permeated the entire conference. Speakers consistently emphasized the value of data—in helping physicians and patients with health care decision making but also for allowing laboratories to demonstrate their value to potential partners and payers. Much discussion surrounded the ways data is used and the way information is shared with physicians and others in the health care delivery system. Speakers emphasized the need to find ways to clearly convey information gained from test data to physicians and patients.
Innovation in technology and affiliations Other speakers focused on business and operational strategies that have proven successful for some laboratories trying to respond to the challenging reimbursement and regulatory environment. Discussions addressed strategic partnerships and affiliations as well as new technologies such as next generation sequencing, specialized testing, lab automation, blood products, managing sepsis, quality control and general business strategies. See the March 24 issue of Lab and Pathology Insider regarding Quest Diagnostic’s lab of the future which was detailed during the conference.
Creating a PathForward Themes of patient engagement and the importance of data carried through to the last day which focused on issues for pathology groups. Strategic mergers, acquisitions and business models demonstrated how pathology groups are responding to market changes. Reiterating the importance of patient involvement, two speakers discussed ways for pathologists to engage directly with patients and the benefits of doing so for the patient and the health care delivery system. Finally, the event ended with a discussion of pathology and laboratory reimbursement and how ACO models are being implemented. Takeaway: Through regulatory and reimbursement uncertainty, laboratories are finding ways to revolutionize their industry, creating opportunities from disruptive changes in their environment. If you missed the Lab Revolution, you still have an opportunity to network and learn with your colleagues at Lab Institute 2015, The Big Reset: Compete and Win in the Emerging Value-Driven Market, in Washington, D.C., October 14-16, 2015.