How two Labcorp physicians are training the next generation of pathologists

Pathologists play a major role in healthcare, but not everyone knows just how big a part they really play. That’s because pathologists often operate behind the scenes, providing diagnoses on a wide variety of tissue samples and performing clinical interpretation of laboratory results. They can also hold key leadership roles in laboratory quality systems and laboratory regulations. To put it simply, their work is vital to diagnosing, treating and curing disease.However, the number of pathologists in the U.S. decreased by almost 18% between 2007 and 2017, according to a National Institutes of Health survey. At the same time, the workload per pathologist increased by almost 42%. Dr. Brian Poirier, medical director of coagulation and endocrinology laboratories at Labcorp Esoteric Business Unit (EBU) Labs, and Dr. Deborah Sesok-Pizzini, chief medical officer at Labcorp Diagnostics, knew something had to be done.

Just breathe: Stress less with these helpful tips

Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences, and it’s something we all experience at one time or another. A little bit of stress, called “eustress,” is good and helps stimulate us so we can perform daily activities and can enhance productivity. This is the kind of stress that helps us overcome challenges and meet deadlines at work when the pressure’s on, but too much stress can have the opposite effect. This negative stress, known as “distress,” can cause problems not only for our performance at work, but also our overall physical and mental health. April is National Stress Awareness month, so it’s a great time to be proactive about managing your stress levels. Having healthy coping strategies in place, such as breathing exercises, can help you find relief at home, the office or anywhere else you encounter stress.  

How simple STI testing makes 4 common STIs easily treatable

When it comes to your overall health, it’s important to stay in the know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STIs typically aren’t something people want to talk about; however, it turns out that half of the most common STIs can be cured or treated if caught early. So we should talk about them.That’s because many common STIs have no early signs or symptoms in the majority of people infected. Untreated STIs can lead to reproductive health problems like infertility. The only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested. If you’re sexually active, getting tested is the most powerful tool to protect your health and others from STIs.

Raising the voices in colon cancer screening

With proper screening, early detection of colorectal cancer often leads to a cure. Since the 1980s, incidents of colorectal cancer have declined—in fact, from 2011 to 2019, incidents dropped by about 1% each year. These promising statistics demonstrate the power of preventive screening.

Health coaching and nutrition: Quick tips for transforming your diet

What do great athletes, gifted musicians, actors and other elite performers have in common? They often rely on coaches behind the scenes. Coaches facilitate the learning and development of another. They give advice or instruction to improve performance and help a client reach the next level.

At-home FIT tests: How they help you detect colon cancer without getting a colonoscopy first

When it comes to colorectal cancer, there is one statistic—a promising one—that stands out: 90% of patients survive beyond 5 years when colon cancer is caught early. Early detection is the key to catching and treating colorectal cancer (CRC). The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone ages 45 to 75 get screened for CRC—further guidelines suggest that those age 75 and older should discuss with their primary care provider about whether or not they should be screened.

The routine screening that changed my life: Tee’s story

Rev. Dr. Timothy “Tee” Boddie knows the power of health screenings firsthand. This is the story of Tee, an ordained Baptist minister and well-respected member of his community, and the routine screening that saved his life.

Kidney health collection kit instructions

Lab partnership reduces gaps in care and improves quality performance

A little more than 20 years ago, care delivery in California started to change. Large-scale independent physician associations (IPAs)—such as the subject of this case study—began taking on full-risk commercial contracts. These contracts, similar to more recent Medicare and ACO programs, were meant to improve patient care and reduce overall costs in a densely populated state. Since 2005, one large, California-based IPA has partnered with Labcorp to conduct yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT) gap closure programs with a proven return track record of 30-40%. The success of this program is a result of the IPA care coordination team leveraging Labcorp’s data to identify patients with screening gaps and coordinate distribution of FIT testing home kits for patient collection. This made it easier for patients to fulfill screening, particularly in underserved populations.

Monitoring your heart health: How to help prevent cardiovascular disease

We all know that it’s important to keep your heart healthy—and 80% of cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke, is preventable. Heart disease risk factors vary from person to person, so even if you’re otherwise healthy, you should consider screening for heart disease.