S2Ep19: Creating Robust Patient-Pathologist Consultation Programs

Most pathologists have limited face-to-face interaction with patients. And yet, many patients would benefit from the opportunity to discuss their lab results with a content expert. 

What can pathologists and laboratory professionals do to connect with the people we serve? How do we make ourselves available to patients and engage them as partners on their wellness journey? 

On this episode of Inside the Lab, our hosts, Dr. Lotte Mulder and Dr. Ali Brown, Chief Officer of Medical Quality at ASCP, are joined by Dr. Lija Joseph, MD, Medical Director for the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Lowell General Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey L. Myers, MD, A. James French Professor of Diagnostic Pathology and Director of Michigan Medicine Laboratories at the University of Michigan, and Ms. Christie Vazquez, MSN, RN, CPN, Pediatric Nurse at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and ASCP Patient Champion, to discuss how patients benefit from talking to pathologists.  

Dr. Joseph and Dr. Myers explain what inspired them to create patient-pathologist consultation programs and explore how we might give patients direct access to a pathologist who can interpret their lab results. Listen in to understand how the CURES Act is impacts these programs and learn how to guide patients to trusted online resources when they don’t have immediate access to a laboratory professional. 

Topics Covered 
·  Why it's important for pathologists to talk to and connect with patients
·  What inspired Dr. Joseph and Dr. Myers to start patient-pathologist consultation programs at their institutions and the challenges of such a program 
·  How patients benefit from understanding their lab tests and pathology reports
·  Creating pathology reports that are easy for patients to understand
·  The stigma of pathologists not being skilled communicators (and what we can do to overcome it)
·  Why it’s crucial for pathologists to be clear about their area of expertise and refer questions that are out of their scope of practice back to the referring physician
·  How the CURES Act is impacting ’ patient-pathologist consultation programs 

Connect with ASCP
ASCP
ASCP on Facebook
ASCP on Instagram
ASCP on Twitter

Connect with Dr. Joseph
Dr. Joseph on Twitter
Dr. Joseph at Lowell General

Connect with Dr. Myers
Dr. Myers on Twitter
Dr. Myers at Michigan Medicine 

Connect with Ms. Vazquez
Ms. Vazquez on LinkedIn
Ms. Vazquez at ASCP Patient Champions 

Connect with Dr. Mulder & Dr. Brown
Dr. Mulder on Twitter
Dr. Brown on Twitter

Resources
CURES Act
ASCP Patient Champion Online Resources
Inside the Lab in the ASCP Store