The Role of the Pathologist in Population Health

Area of Science:

• Medical laboratory science
• Public health
• Health systems research

Background:

• The College of American Pathologists is researching the role of pathologists in value-based care and population health.
• Understanding the impact and engagement of pathologists in population health management is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the impact of population health on pathologists.
• To identify roles pathologists play in population health management.
• To assess the feasibility of pathologist engagement in diverse practice settings.
• To explore pathologists' capacity to analyze laboratory data for population health.
• To outline steps for pathologist involvement in population health initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Conducted 10 semistructured interviews with pathologists and laboratory leaders active in population health.
• Supplemented interviews with a comprehensive review of the medical literature.

Main Results:

• Pathologists can add significant value to population health through laboratory data analysis.
• Contributions are possible in both large and small practice settings.
• Pathologists must be proactive and may need to enhance skills and data quality to maximize impact.

Conclusions:

• Pathologists are making innovative contributions to population health.
• This article highlights promising activities among pathologists and laboratorians in population health management.