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COVID-19 Pandemic Spurs Evolution of an Academic Pathology Department and Laboratory
Gregory L Blakey1, Cindy B McCloskey1, Joel M Guthridge2
1Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated positive organizational changes in pathology departments and clinical labs. This led to improved infrastructure, research, and a stronger role for laboratory medicine in patient care.
Area of Science:
- Pathology
- Laboratory Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted global health infrastructure and highlighted testing limitations.
- Challenges in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing were prominent in the United States.
- Pathology practices and clinical laboratories faced unprecedented operational demands.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the accelerated evolution of a university pathology department and its associated laboratories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To highlight the positive organizational and operational changes driven by the pandemic.
- To underscore the enhanced value of laboratory medicine within a health system.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative assessment of organizational and operational changes within the University of Oklahoma Department of Pathology and OU Health Laboratories.
- Analysis of pandemic response initiatives, including substantial COVID-19 testing development.
- Review of strategic developments such as research partnerships and reference laboratory capabilities.
Main Results:
- Development of a substantial COVID-19 testing capacity.
- Establishment of a nimbler organizational structure and new research partnerships.
- Creation of translational research resources and enhanced reference laboratory capabilities.
- Successful recruitment of key personnel despite national hiring challenges.
- Increased recognition of laboratory medicine's value in patient care.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for significant positive transformation within the pathology department and laboratories.
- Enhanced trust and collaboration among leadership facilitated adaptation and growth.
- The department and laboratories emerged stronger, with improved capabilities and a reinforced role in healthcare delivery.
Abstract:
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused much suffering through disease and death, disruption of daily life, and economic havoc. Global health infrastructure has been challenged, in some cases failing. In the United States, the inability of laboratories to provide adequate testing for the causative pathogen, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has been the subject of negative press and national debate. Even so, these challenges have prompted pathology practices and clinical labs to change their organizations and operations for the better. The natural positive evolution of the University of Oklahoma Department of Pathology and OU Health Laboratories has been greatly accelerated by the global pandemic. While developing a substantial COVID testing response, our department of pathology and laboratories have evolved a much nimbler organizational structure, established an important research partnership, built a translational research resource, created a significant reference lab capability, and completed many key hires against a national background of hiring freezes and pay cuts. Also, the high visibility of the clinical lab and pathologists during the outbreak has reinforced the value of lab medicine to patient care across our health system. In the midst of significant ongoing changes to the structure and financing of our underlying organizations, high trust among departmental, hospital, health system, and medical school leadership during the pandemic has promoted these positive changes, allowing us to emerge much stronger from this crisis.
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