The usefulness of pathologists' assistants.
Am J Clin Pathol
; 112(5): 619-26, 1999 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10549248
ABSTRACT
The usefulness of pathologists' assistants (PAs) has not been assessed rigorously. Data from a time-motion self-report log generated by an Allegheny General Hospital (Pittsburgh, PA) PA and from the corresponding surgical specimen logs were reviewed to determine the daily distribution of PA time and multiple parameters of practice for gross examination of specimens. Using these data in specific scenarios, PA and non-PA practices were compared. The majority of the PA's time (56.5%) was spent performing gross examination of surgical biopsy specimens. The average cost of gross examination per specimen for a PA and a pathologist was $4.37 and $15.19, respectively. In this practice setting, $91,970.00 is saved per year by the use of a PA. The use of PAs instead of pathologists results in considerable practice cost savings ($560,000 in a practice of 50,000 specimens) or saves pathologists time to perform other necessary functions. PAs are highly useful in an era of cost containment.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Patologia Cirúrgica
/
Assistentes Médicos
/
Padrões de Prática Médica
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Am J Clin Pathol
Ano de publicação:
1999
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos