Guest guest Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 I send patients to the lab for blood draws. No one seems to mind. I don't have the space or volume to warrant a phlebotomist. In my prior job that was much higher volume-a residency program-Lab Corp supplied us with a phlebotomist. I am not sure where you are located but in my area of NJ we also use Bioreference. Their draw stations are mostly up north which is a huge limitation but they give a 70% discount to those that are uninsured. And they are generally a pleasure to deal with, faster reporting of results than either Quest or LC, and they take many insurances. For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 send to lab for draw - works well and often have folks do labs prior to coming in (just email order). We have labcorp and quest. Labcorp used to be horrible (running incorrect labs 40% of time) but they've increased customer service and now acceptable. Have 1-way interface (inward) with EMR so all labs come directly. Also have self pay contract so I can be billed (and then bill patient) to get discounted rates for self-pay folks or people with really crappy insurance rates I send patients to the lab for blood draws. No one seems to mind. I don't have the space or volume to warrant a phlebotomist. In my prior job that was much higher volume-a residency program-Lab Corp supplied us with a phlebotomist. I am not sure where you are located but in my area of NJ we also use Bioreference. Their draw stations are mostly up north which is a huge limitation but they give a 70% discount to those that are uninsured. And they are generally a pleasure to deal with, faster reporting of results than either Quest or LC, and they take many insurances. For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 I'm solo with no staff, and fortunately have a LabCorp, Quest and another lab within 1-3 miles, so I send my patients for draws. It's not big deal,, The patient even take their Paps over, or they get picked up. I negotiated with Labcorp for " special pricing " for my practice account to offer to uninsured pts... If you bargain hard you can get some really good prices. Quest too.I like LabCorp's labs better for what I do, and I like their lab reports better than Quest, but they do make a lot of mistakes, at all levels, from ordering to billing. Some chiropractors I know use Labcorp via ProfessionalCo-op.com and seem to avoid the LabCorp hassles that way,,, the prices are good (but not as good as a negotiated " special pricing " )Anne For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Anne Walch, MHS, PA-CHealing Path Integrative Medicinewww.hpimed.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Send to lab I live in the middle of nowhere , we ain't got LAb corps or Quest what I have is the hospital and I deliberately opened across the street from them This makes a commute for me but lab /xray / etc is across the st So is autoclave and mtgs and going to see someone at the hopsital who is an inpatient Lab is open more hrs than I can be- til 7 pm some evenigs and Sat am's. some pateitns of my retired landlord had to switch - she drew their blood but they actually do not mind going t o hospital they can go with more flexibility I do not think it is very easily possible to spupport his servcie for people any more in our offices What we CAN do is desogn the offic e to be efficient fo r them and have the lab nearby I get lab pick ups twice a day for cultures,paps urines etc . I have a frig they give me and I call and they make a pick up I love the lab:) I'm solo with no staff, and fortunately have a LabCorp, Quest and another lab within 1-3 miles, so I send my patients for draws. It's not big deal,, The patient even take their Paps over, or they get picked up. I negotiated with Labcorp for " special pricing " for my practice account to offer to uninsured pts... If you bargain hard you can get some really good prices. Quest too.I like LabCorp's labs better for what I do, and I like their lab reports better than Quest, but they do make a lot of mistakes, at all levels, from ordering to billing. Some chiropractors I know use Labcorp via ProfessionalCo-op.com and seem to avoid the LabCorp hassles that way,,, the prices are good (but not as good as a negotiated " special pricing " )Anne For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Anne Walch, MHS, PA-CHealing Path Integrative Medicinewww.hpimed.com -- MD ph fax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 16, 2012 Report Share Posted April 16, 2012 Labcorp does have more than the usual errors no matter how carefully we tell them: this is frozen, this is refridgerated, etc. Unfortunately all but one of my insurances want labcorp. When I tried to send patients to the lab they just never got done so for 3 years I drew myself. Now I have a part time nurse/receptionist and I make them come back when she is in two days a week. It is a money loser but is better health care. To: Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 5:19 PM Subject: Re: imp lab draws Send to lab I live in the middle of nowhere , we ain't got LAb corps or Quest what I have is the hospital and I deliberately opened across the street from them This makes a commute for me but lab /xray / etc is across the st So is autoclave and mtgs and going to see someone at the hopsital who is an inpatient Lab is open more hrs than I can be- til 7 pm some evenigs and Sat am's. some pateitns of my retired landlord had to switch - she drew their blood but they actually do not mind going t o hospital they can go with more flexibility I do not think it is very easily possible to spupport his servcie for people any more in our offices What we CAN do is desogn the offic e to be efficient fo r them and have the lab nearby I get lab pick ups twice a day for cultures,paps urines etc . I have a frig they give me and I call and they make a pick up I love the lab:) I'm solo with no staff, and fortunately have a LabCorp, Quest and another lab within 1-3 miles, so I send my patients for draws. It's not big deal,, The patient even take their Paps over, or they get picked up. I negotiated with Labcorp for "special pricing" for my practice account to offer to uninsured pts... If you bargain hard you can get some really good prices. Quest too.I like LabCorp's labs better for what I do, and I like their lab reports better than Quest, but they do make a lot of mistakes, at all levels, from ordering to billing. Some chiropractors I know use Labcorp via ProfessionalCo-op.com and seem to avoid the LabCorp hassles that way,,, the prices are good (but not as good as a negotiated "special pricing")Anne For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Anne Walch, MHS, PA-CHealing Path Integrative Medicinewww.hpimed.com -- MD ph fax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 I perform nearly all of my own blood draws. I find it is extra time to “chit-chat” with the patient. 99 % of the specimens go into a SST or a lavender top, so it’s quite easy. My lab picks up the specimens daily. Chris From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 3:43 PM To: Subject: imp lab draws For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 We send the patient to their lab of choice (or their insurance company's lab of choice). We have a LabCorp in the building, Quest and the hospital lab are 2 blocks away. Since most of what we order is fasting, patients prefer to do it when the labs open first thing at the lab closest to them. Pratt I perform nearly all of my own blood draws. I find it is extra time to “chit-chat” with the patient. 99 % of the specimens go into a SST or a lavender top, so it’s quite easy. My lab picks up the specimens daily. Chris From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 3:43 PM To: Subject: imp lab draws For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Pratt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 When the lab makes mistakes, I contact their local representative, LabCorp, Quest. In general, they responde pretty well. Not so much luck with the big Hospital system across street from my office. The commercial labs desperately want business. So if I find an error and contact them, they response to my request, or give me advice on the order slip. Wen San Mateo, CA We send the patient to their lab of choice (or their insurance company's lab of choice). We have a LabCorp in the building, Quest and the hospital lab are 2 blocks away. Since most of what we order is fasting, patients prefer to do it when the labs open first thing at the lab closest to them. Pratt I perform nearly all of my own blood draws. I find it is extra time to “chit-chat” with the patient. 99 % of the specimens go into a SST or a lavender top, so it’s quite easy. My lab picks up the specimens daily. Chris From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 3:43 PM To: Subject: imp lab draws For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Pratt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 I WISH I could send them to a lab, but nearest draw site is 30 minutes away, so I draw them myself (no other clinical staff here) and hospital sends a driver out once daily. It does take up some time, but patients are very appreciative and admire my blood-drawing skill! Like I think it's kind of fun to chit-chat while doing it. Whenever possible, I do it during a visit, but even when it's scheduled for just a draw, it will often turn into a visit, which is good for my finances!---Sharlene > > For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? > > Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or > send to a local lab for the basics? > > Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times > bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced > phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier > to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. > > Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if > they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. > Even then the discounts are poor. > > They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the > bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an > Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. > > any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if > you prefer. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 So share your secret as when I try to turn a blood draw into a visit I get flack about co-pays! To: Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 9:15 PM Subject: Re: imp lab draws I WISH I could send them to a lab, but nearest draw site is 30 minutes away, so I draw them myself (no other clinical staff here) and hospital sends a driver out once daily. It does take up some time, but patients are very appreciative and admire my blood-drawing skill! Like I think it's kind of fun to chit-chat while doing it. Whenever possible, I do it during a visit, but even when it's scheduled for just a draw, it will often turn into a visit, which is good for my finances!---Sharlene > > For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? > > Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or > send to a local lab for the basics? > > Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times > bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced > phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier > to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. > > Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if > they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. > Even then the discounts are poor. > > They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the > bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an > Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. > > any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if > you prefer. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 Oh, how I wish.....I never get that kind of response. To: Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 8:34 PM Subject: Re: imp lab draws When the lab makes mistakes, I contact their local representative, LabCorp, Quest. In general, they responde pretty well. Not so much luck with the big Hospital system across street from my office. The commercial labs desperately want business. So if I find an error and contact them, they response to my request, or give me advice on the order slip. Wen San Mateo, CA We send the patient to their lab of choice (or their insurance company's lab of choice). We have a LabCorp in the building, Quest and the hospital lab are 2 blocks away. Since most of what we order is fasting, patients prefer to do it when the labs open first thing at the lab closest to them. Pratt I perform nearly all of my own blood draws. I find it is extra time to “chit-chat†with the patient. 99 % of the specimens go into a SST or a lavender top, so it’s quite easy. My lab picks up the specimens daily. Chris From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 3:43 PM To: Subject: imp lab draws For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. -- Pratt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 I tell them that any time I have to write a note in the chart about a problem, it's a visit, and they don't give me any trouble about the copay. I have about 3 little, old, not-well-off folks on warfarin with a slew of other medical problems that are not very stable. They are here so often for blood draws and every one of them could justify a visit for f/u of other problems, but I feel so sorry for them that I try to hold it down to just the blood draw whenever I can. Otherwise, they would have 20+ visits per year! They get out their money at the end, and I have to insist, " it was just a blood draw, today. " I guess I'm lucky!---Sharlene > > > > For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? > > > > Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or > > send to a local lab for the basics? > > > > Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times > > bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced > > phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier > > to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. > > > > Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if > > they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. > > Even then the discounts are poor. > > > > They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the > > bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an > > Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. > > > > any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if > > you prefer. > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 17, 2012 Report Share Posted April 17, 2012 We draw all of our bloods, mostly use labcrop because their bridge is free and pulls all the data out of the EMR. No more mistakes than anyone else. We could send people either 15 miles to a hospital or 70 miles to Denver, but we do it all, spin it etc. No issues overall. They DO discount fees for the uninsured even when drawn in our office, never had an issue. From: [ ] On Behalf Of [davidbfeig@...] Sent: Monday, April 16, 2012 2:42 PM To: Subject: imp lab draws For those of you in an IMP situation, how do you handle blood draws? Do you devote any time or staff for doing it in your own office? Or send to a local lab for the basics? Our office uses labcorp. which as been, at times good and at times bad. Given the hassles and using our relatively inexperienced phlebotomists to draw blood I am thinking perhaps it would be easier to just send patients to a labcorp location for the draw. Labcorp will only give a discount if the patient has no insurance if they get the blood drawn in their own facility/lab, not in our office. Even then the discounts are poor. They also seem to have a habit of making lots of mistakes on the bill--when you draw for a hep B Surface AB, they often will do an Antigen instead, then bill you for a comprehensive hepatitis panel. any prior lab corp experiences? Feel free to email me off the list if you prefer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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