The transition to a value-based payment system offers pathologists the opportunity to play an increased role in population health by improving outcomes and safety as well as reducing costs. Although laboratory testing itself accounts for a small portion of health-care spending, laboratory data have significant downstream effects in patient management as well as diagnosis. Pathologists currently are heavily engaged in precision medicine, use of laboratory and pathology test results (including autopsy data) to reduce diagnostic errors, and play leading roles in diagnostic management teams. Additionally, pathologists can use aggregate laboratory data to monitor the health of populations and improve health-care outcomes for both individual patients and populations. For the profession to thrive, pathologists will need to focus on extending their roles outside the laboratory beyond the traditional role in the analytic phase of testing. This should include leadership in ensuring correct ordering and interpretation of laboratory testing and leadership in population health programs. | The value proposition for pathologists A population health approach
