In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss updates on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) and other policy changes affecting clinical diagnostics. Later, Dr. Pritt welcomes Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., a molecular genetic pathologist at Mayo Clinic and chair of the hereditary genetics practice, to explore how precision therapeutics are improving cancer treatments.

• PAMA update (00:01): Get the latest on PAMA as the first data collection period begins, including ongoing efforts to advance the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act.
• Policy changes influencing diagnostics (04:09): Learn how evolving reimbursement policies for blood-based cancer screening and a proposed CLIA modernization bill may impact the field.
• Pharmacogenomic tests improving cancer care (08:14): Discover how pharmacogenomics are benefiting patients with cancer, the benefits of medication-based testing, and how this field is advancing.

Resources

• CMS: CLFS & PAMA reporting and resources
• Precision Oncology Therapeutics: Personalized cancer treatment
• Answers From the Lab: Genetic Tests Identify Risk of Irinotecan-Induced Toxicity: John Logan Black, M.D.
• Answers From the Lab: Genetic Tests Identify Risk of Fluoropyrimidine-Induced Toxicity: Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, speaks with William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, about Ebola, hantavirus and takeaways from a recent healthcare conference. Later, she welcomes Elli Theel, Ph.D., a microbiologist in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, to explore vector-borne diseases.

• Top industry topics (00:04): Dr. Morice highlights key topics from a recent major healthcare conference, including AI and payment reform.
• Infectious diseases in the news (04:04): Overview of hantavirus, Ebola, and why laboratory medicine is important during outbreaks.
• Growing prevalence of vector-borne diseases (06:48): Insights on the growing prevalence of vector-borne diseases.
• Testing options (09:45): Understand the different types of testing available for pathogens and when it is best to use each one.
• Innovation and discovery (17:05): Discover emerging pathogens and advances in detection.
• Protect yourself (19:41): Learn easy ways to protect yourself and your family from vector-borne diseases.

Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.

Resources

• Forbes: Is hantavirus an emerging threat? What you need to know
• Vector-borne diseases by geographic region
• Vector-borne diseases: The right tests for detection and diagnosis
• Learn the ABCs of ticks

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, welcomes Brad Karon, M.D., Ph.D., division chair for Mayo Clinic's Clinical Core Laboratory Services and a member of the laboratory and pathologist stewardship team, to discuss laboratory stewardship strategies and why they matter.

• Why lab stewardship is important (00:44): How improved test utilization benefits laboratories, healthcare systems, and patients.
• Strategies for promoting lab stewardship (03:40): Proven approaches for improving appropriate test utilization.
• How industry disrupters will change stewardship efforts (09:33): How artificial intelligence and other emerging disruptors may reshape lab stewardship efforts.

Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.

Resources

• Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin: Promoting laboratory stewardship through clinical decision support
• Five steps to optimizing your outreach test menu
• Hospital-owned labs generate long-term financial and clinical value