What is Clinical Pathology?
Pathologists provide a variety of essential services to the clinical laboratory. Although pathologists are most often recognized for interpretative laboratory services in several areas including: hematology, coagulation, immunology, chemistry, cytogenetics, molecular diagnostics, microbiology and transfusion medicine, these services are only a single example of how pathologists provide valuable contributions to patient care. As medical directors and physicians, pathologists are responsible for the provision of quality laboratory services to patients. For each and every test and/or analyte measured by the laboratory, pathologists :
- establish appropriate reference values and medically critical values,
- review, determine appropriate changes to, and approve all laboratory procedures,
- design test protocols, specimen requirements, and performance parameters,
- create and continuously review internal quality monitors and proficiency trials to insure that all testing is properly performed, recorded and accurately reported,
- develop and implement mechanisms for the timely reporting of results,
- review and determine the level of competency for all personnel involved in laboratory testing,
- assume responsibility for laboratory compliance with state licensure laws, accreditation standards and federal certification standards,
- monitor laboratory utilization to insure proper and fiscally responsible test ordering by other physicians,
- provide knowledgeable consultative services to physicians, including the clinical significance and possible causes for abnormal test results, data interpretation, and advice to optimize testing algorithms to best investigate suspected clinical conditions,
- determine, analyze and direct implementation of new instrumentation and test modalities to best serve the medical needs of patients. Although many patients are unaware of these and other related benefits, Pathologists continue to dedicate considerable time and expertise towards the provision of high quality.