Notes from the ASCP Meeting…

Recently, I attended the ASCP (American Society for Clinical Pathology) meeting in San Francisco.  I enjoy this meeting because it gives me another perspective on my industry.  Unlike the “pomp and circumstance” of the CAP meeting, the overall mood is more laid back and less bureaucratic.  

The attendees at this show range from med techs and pathology assistants to pathologists.  It’s great to talk with these professionals and get their opinions on health care and the general mood of the industry.  

I am also intrigued by the international flair of this show and the opportunity to talk with people from Canada, Israel, Great Brittan and Saudi Arabia.  I always ask what their health care system is like.  What is the quality of care?  Is there a tiered system?  Who controls health care?  What are they paid compared to the pathologists in the United States?  (I recently completed a compensation study with the help of several billers - the numbers are quite impressive!) 

It was interesting to talk to these professionals from countries with socialized medicine and listen to their complaints.  It may seem that their countries have no problems and that everyone loves this process.  But in truth, they are having serious problems finding pathologists to fill their needs and the overall standard of care is lacking.  I heard several pathologists state directly, that the quality of care is a real issue and that the overall patient outcomes are dismal compared to our system. 

Although there are challenges in our health care system and pathologists may be experiencing the stress of a changing market, I feel that compared to their peers in other countries, here in the U.S. we are doing much better.  Every single country that has a national health care plan seems to have a private system working in the background.  

It is easy to point out the flaws in our system and even easier to suggest solutions from the sidelines.  The bottom line is that if you think the grass is greener on the other side you must remember, that in the end, its still just grass.