First few Article Sentences
Anatomic pathology is unlike any other medical specialty. For patients, pathologists are the most important doctor they will never see. For physicians, a trusting relationship with a pathologist colleague is critical for medical decision making. For healthcare in general, pathology/laboratory findings drive 60-70% of healthcare decisions and profoundly influence costs. How a pathology laboratory integrates IT into their practice can have a significant impact on these relationships.
Four years ago, three western Washington anatomic pathology groups (Black Hills Pathology in Olympia, Associated Pathologists in Everett and Washington Pathology Consultants in Seattle) merged to become CellNetix Pathology & Laboratories. Amongst the threats the companies faced pre-merger, as small independent pathology groups, were new IT requirements, the costs and complexities of which were far beyond their budgets and resources.