title: Consumer direct access to clinical laboratory testing: what are the critical issues?
abstract: Americans are demanding, independent people. In most aspects of our lives, we are used to walking into a store or other place of business with the expectation that the personnel working for the business will make every effort to satisfy our requests quickly and without the need for a third party to intervene or approve the transaction. Hence, the popularity of convenience stores, do-it-yourself stores and kits, and e-commerce. The delivery of health-care services, however, generally does not conform to this model. Before most diagnostic tests or treatments are ordered, patients usually consult a physician. In many cases, prior to tests or treatments being performed, additional consultations are required with insurance plans. But the winds of change, they are a-blowing. More and more, people demand an active role in managing their health care. One emerging trend is direct patient access to clinical laboratory testing (1).
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: C Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pontius
mesh_terms: D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003954:Diagnostic Services / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D010358:Patient Participation; D014481:United States