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How to Be a Better Surgical Pathology Consultant
1Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
American Journal of Clinical Pathology
|June 2, 2021
Summary
Pathologists value consultant expertise, accessibility, and prompt turnaround times. Avoid consultants who order expensive tests or frequently change diagnoses to ensure optimal surgical pathology consultations.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Medical Consultation
Background:
- Surgical pathology specimen consultation is a routine pathologist practice.
- Evaluating consultant characteristics and undesirable habits is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key characteristics of effective surgical pathology consultants.
- To determine habits to avoid when selecting a consultant.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire was developed to assess pathologist preferences for consultants.
- The survey was distributed to 106 pathologists, with a 55% response rate.
Main Results:
- Knowledge and expertise were the primary criteria for selecting consultants.
- Accessibility, rapid turnaround time, and educational explanations were also important.
- Expensive workups and changing diagnoses were key reasons to avoid a consultant.
Conclusions:
- Consultant accessibility, short turnaround times, and teaching are vital for selection.
- Expensive workups and altering diagnoses significantly decrease a consultant's favorability.
