APPROACH TO QUALITY
Acupath seamlessly operates everyday through a system of checks and balances in order to provide you with the highest standard of pathology. From specimen pickup to report delivery, quality assurance is Acupath's number one priority.
SPECIMEN PICKUP
Acupath's private couriers visit your office either through a scheduled pickup or on a "will-call" basis. Committed to providing the most convenient and personalized service, Acupath can tailor a pickup schedule to meet your unique needs.
Left with a last minute, unexpected specimen? No problem, just call Acupath, and the staff can dispatch one of the couriers to a doctor's office at anytime. To make tracking specimens simple, all of Acupath's couriers are equipped with the latest in digital communications technology to ensure for the timely pickup of specimens.
ACCESSIONING
Quality laboratory service begins with accessioning of the specimen. Utilizing advanced digital and barcode technology, all patient demographics are entered into Acupath's database. Integration of accessioning and reporting systems allows for greater efficiency and reduces the likelihood of errors in reports.
TISSUE PROCESSING
Tissue processing is performed on fully-automated, high-tech machinery by Acupath's skilled technologists. Blocks and slides are rigorously maintained in compliance with New York State regulations, and the board-certified pathologists oversee the entire process.
SPECIMEN REVIEW
Acupath's quality assurance program includes a randomized evaluation system to assess clinical accuracy through peer review. Several cases from each specimen consignment are randomly selected and reviewed by another Acupath pathologist for accuracy of diagnosis and precision of the written report.
Prior to being released to a client, every report prepared by Acupath's specially-trained transcriptionists is reviewed by the pathologist for correctness.
PRINT REVIEW
Once a diagnosis has been approved, the report is then finalized. The written report undergoes a quality assurance process of both the printed word and colored photomicrograph, ensuring that the physician receives only the most expertly-printed diagnostic report (Acupath's clients often comment that they can easily distinguish an Acupath report from other pathology lab reports due to Acupath's unique styling, clarity, and the inclusion of a digital photomicrograph).
PHYSICIAN'S OFFICE
Acupath takes its approach to quality one-step further than most pathology labs by ensuring the precise interpretation and transcription of reports even after they have left the laboratory.
The report includes an anatomical site diagram to help remind the physician of the precise location of the biopsy. The mark on the diagram denoting the source of the biopsy and the text of the diagnosis itself are color-coded by diagnosis category (benign, inflammatory, cancer, etc.), allowing the physician to easily gauge the severity of a diagnosis.
The report also includes a full-colored photomicrograph of the view most representative of the diagnosis, giving the ordering physician the opportunity for a cursory review of the pathologist's work. Best of all, Acupath's reports include its patented Peel-off Label SystemT, which allows diagnostic information to be flawlessly transferred from the report to the patient's chart, virtually eliminating the risk of transcription error.
Of course, if a client has any questions regarding a diagnosis, the pathologist who issued the report is available for timely consultation Monday through Friday.
ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT
Acupath's quality assurance committee, reporting directly to the medical director and CEO, regularly reviews computer generated reports summarizing every aspect of the evaluation process, from initial specimen pickup to the delivery of the report to the referring physician. The administrative and executive staff of Acupath is fully committed to providing laboratory services of the highest quality.
In addition, the number one priority for Acupath's attentive client service representatives is to make sure the client's needs are sufficiently met, whether it is ensuring that all diagnostic reports are received on a timely basis, supplies are refilled as requested or specimens are quickly picked up and transported. Every month, a representative from the client service team will visit their assigned physician's office to confirm that the client is 100% satisfied. That is the Acupath promise - "For the Absolute Highest Standard..."
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