In analyzing which machine will best meet the needs of your practice, look beyond the machine's price tag. What you pay for reagents each time you run a test can greatly influence your overall costs. The Careside Analyzer, for example, is a closed system. That means that it uses individual cartridges that contain reagent, which results in a higher operating cost per test than machines that use batch reagents. Once you purchase the right equipment, you'll need someone to work either part time or full time in the lab.
Some physicians train an existing staff member like a nurse or medical assistant.
But Dr. Root suggested hiring a trained laboratory technologist. The incremental cost is very minimal, and that person will have no problem meeting CLIA standards and understanding them. Ultimately, the qualifications of the lab person should depend on the range of testing performed. Smaller practices with more limited testing have successfully used medical assistants to run their labs, sometimes supported by an outside contract medical technologist. Reimbursement Physicians worry that HMOs looking for volume discounts won't reimburse for their lab services, but Dr. Root said that's typically not the case.