Convenience Can Be Costly!

Vaginitis is one of the most common issues causing a patient to present with symptoms in a women’s health practice.   And although uncomfortable, is it logical that diagnosis of this condition would generate lab bills ranging from hundreds to upwards of $1,000.00?

                                           At ConVerge, we think NOT!

For decades, clinicians have prepared wet mount slides and used the Amsel criteria (pH, secretion appearance, whiff test) to perform initial diagnosis of the causal agents of vaginitis and bacterial vaginosis.  They have then used their reference laboratory to supplement this methodology when the findings were unclear or indeterminate. 

However, accurate diagnosis via wet mount is variable and can be time consuming.  Thus, many clinicians now prefer to handle this testing completely via their reference laboratory.

Understanding this trend, many laboratories are now pushing extensive panels for Vaginitis/Vaginosis which utilize sophisticated internally developed PCR testing technologies and offer the convenience of a single collection swab or the ability to perform the testing from a Liquid based pap vial.  That convenience and technology however comes with a high price tag, as each organism is tested for and billed for individually.  The January 2012 edition of Laboratory Economics specifically spotlights these extended pathogen panels, as in GenPap (from BRL) and SureSwab (from Quest Diagnostics) and notes that LabCorp will soon be jumping in with its’ own offering to capture the lucrative reimbursement.

                   At ConVerge, We Believe that More is Not Always Better  

To assist in making the correct diagnosis, ConVerge offers a thoughtfully selected set of methodologies which make scientific sense for you and economic sense to your patients.

• BD Affirm is a single swab, FDA approved test for Trichomonas, Candida species, and clinically relevant levels of Gardnerella bacteria.   
• Additionally, we offer separate testing for Chlamydia, GC, Herpes, Mycoplasma/ Ureaplasma, and genital cultures (which includes identification of Candida).
• YOU decide which test(s) is appropriate for that patient’s clinical picture.
• We also offer conveniently packaged kits containing the optimal collection devices and transport media for various test groups if needed, which can be customized to your practice, while saving significant dollars for your patients and the healthcare system.

With Today's High Deductibles & Co-pays, isn't it important to understand how much "convenience" costs your patients?

Is it perhaps time to think diffenrently?