Rhondalyn Bomkamp

Pathologists use various stains to help make their diagnoses. One of the categories of stains is called special stains and refers to a technique where dyes or chemicals are used to identify specific cell structures or components present within the submitted sample. The pathologist can use these particular special stains to confirm or categorize the potential diagnoses.

Connective tissue plays an essential role in the human body by holding together, protecting, supporting, and joining organs to tissues. This editorial describes the categories of connective tissue, the types of connective tissue diseases, and the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases.

The responsibility of the clinical laboratory is to provide quality patient diagnostics. However, the environment in which this work occurs contains health and safety risks where workers must remain vigilant. This article will review safety precautions in the laboratory.  

Precision and personalized medicine are terms used interchangeably. This approach is advancing rapidly and will change the way clinicians are practicing medicine. 

In partnership with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), Leica Biosystems’ Process & Solution Optimization team worked with several hospitals with the goal to improve the quality and efficiencies of their breast programs. Through this work, the team identified common barriers and improvement opportunities.

In partnership with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), Leica Biosystems’ Process & Solution Optimization team worked with several hospitals with the goal to improve the quality and efficiencies of their breast programs. Through this work, the team identified common barriers and improvement opportunities.

Leica Biosystems working in partnership with Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), conducted process assessments to analyze the timeliness treatment for breast cancer patients. We identified a lack of standardized processes for conduction of imaging services and elongated time to diagnosis. The Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADs) is the standardized method to record findings on imaging studies.

Leica Biosystems working in partnership with Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), conducted process assessments to analyze the timeliness treatment for breast cancer patients. We identified a lack of standardized processes for conduction of imaging services and elongated time to diagnosis. The Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADs) is the standardized method to record findings on imaging studies.

Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is a community hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio. Review of data pertaining to breast care delivery demonstrated opportunities for improvement. Analysis of the cadence of care processes across departments demonstrated delays in care and outmigration potential. One quality study demonstrated 10% of patients did NOT select SOMC for surgical intervention post biopsy.

Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is a community hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio. Review of data pertaining to breast care delivery demonstrated opportunities for improvement. Analysis of the cadence of care processes across departments demonstrated delays in care and outmigration potential. One quality study demonstrated 10% of patients did NOT select SOMC for surgical intervention post biopsy.