A study of the use of immunohistochemical stains in an academic hospital

Abstract

With the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), hospitals are under increased pressure to understand and control cost and quality of care. While there are good metrics for primary care physicians on controlling cost and measuring quality (i.e. tracking glucose levels in a diabetic patient), those measures have not been developed for laboratory medicine. This study examines how the pathology department at Massachusetts General Hospital approached this challenge. Specifically, the study is focused on the use of immunohistochemical (IHC) stains in the pathology department. This paper covers the possible effects of the ACA on laboratory operations, an overview of pathology, and the use of IHC by subspecialty. It will concludes with results of the findings and how they can be leveraged both in and outside the department.