Q) What is a Pathologist?
A) A Pathologist is a Private-Practice Physician Specialist. Your Pathologist and Labroratory are key to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Frequently working behind the scenes with your physician or surgeon, it is likely that you will not have met your Pathologist, though you may visit the Laboratory. Your Pathologist works closely with Surgeons, Oncologists, Primary Care Physicians and various medical specialists to understand whether you have contracted an ilness, the nature of your condition and how you might best be treated. In Anatomic Pathology your Pathologist reviews and interprets your "case" through the use of high-powered microscopes on specimens such as tumors, blood samples, and body fluids. Typically, Anatomic Pathology is in search of the difference between benign, non-cancerous cell growth in the body and malignant cancerous cells in your body. In Clinical Pathology a Pathologist directs medical management of the hospital lab, overseeing quality management and the integration of testing services by laboratory technicians and highly complex machines in daily operations. In both settings a Pathologist is the patient's advocate and a highly-skilled "problem solver" who works with teams of technical professionals to make sure that patients receive quality laboratory testing.
Q) What is a Referring Doctor?
A) In HMO's or other managed care programs the Primary Care Physician responsible for recommending a patient to another medical professional or specialist.
Q) What is a Commercial Adjustment?
A) A commercial adjustment is the discounted amount that is contracted rate with the participating insurance provider.
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