- Speaker #0
How pathology guidelines support cancer prevention, and landmines to avoid when starting your practice. That and more, coming up.
This is Path News Network's Daily Edition from the College of American Pathologists. I'm Dafna Farkas. It's Wednesday, February 11th.
February is National Cancer Prevention Month, and new federal guidelines are making it easier for women to get screened for cervical cancer. The updated recommendations offer women ages 30 to 65 the option to self-collect samples for high-risk HPV testing. This is the preferred screening method for this age group. For women ages 21 to 29, the guidelines continue to recommend routine PAP testing. These updates are expected to be covered by most private insurance plans beginning in January.
And speaking of new guidelines, check out CAP On Demand for expert insight into the new CAP evidence-based guideline on the workup of amyloidosis. In the platform's first original podcast episode, CAP members Dr. Dylan Miller and Dr. Billie Fyfe-Kirschner walk through staining recommendations and explain why accurate febrile subtyping is essential for patient care. CAP On Demand also includes over 200 video presentations ranging across subspecialties and perfect for pathologists looking to add learning into their busy schedules.
For pathologists who want to learn more on other guideline updates, the live April Interactive Surgical Pathology Case Webinar on GI tumors will cover updates on HER2 testing and the use of Ki-67 grading. CAP members Dr. Amy Brownlee and Dr. Christopher Sande will guide participants through real-world cases, digital slide review, and a Q&A segment. This CME-accredited course will take place on April 16th and is intended for surgical pathologists looking to sharpen their skills in diagnosing GI tumors.
And finally, managing a pathology practice can feel like navigating a field of hidden traps. The CAP webinar, Greatest Landmines in Practice Management, will dig into the essential skills of practice management and the potential landmines to avoid. Seasoned experts break down the challenges that caught them off guard and the real-world strategies they used to steer their practices back on track. Session moderator and CAP member Dr. David Novis recalls one of the biggest challenges from his own career.
- Dr. David Novis
The landmine I stepped on was not doing better due diligence in hiring folks. Pathologists hire young associates because of their expertise. And they're interested in getting the pathologists who are the very best looking at the microscope. However, quality has less to do with getting geniuses than it does with creating systems, systems of value, systems of excellence.
- Speaker #0
Dr. Novis brought together three competing pathology groups to bid on outside work. Without their own lab, the group had to rely on and negotiate with a separate laboratory to process the tests. He made one offhand remark to the lab CEO that could have changed everything.
- Dr. David Novis
At one point, I said to this the CEO of this laboratory. Well, you know, maybe the pathologist would just do it ourselves, you know, screw you. And he leans back and says, you want to start a lab, Dave? Be my guest. And all of a sudden, I'm thinking, Dave, what a jerk you are. Not him, you. And that was the beginning.
- Speaker #0
Dr. Novis recalls another lesson he learned early in his practice.
- Dr. David Novis
When I was first in practice, this guy walks in my office. No jacket, no tie. At a time when doctors all had jackets and ties, they had a briefcase. I never saw a doctor carry a briefcase. I thought he was a salesman. And he just walked in, sat down at the double-headed scope, and said, I'd like to see these slides. And I thought he was a salesman. And I was rude to him. And that bothered me when I found out he was an oral surgeon. I said, what difference does it make whether he's a salesman or a doctor? Tell you to treat people.
- Speaker #0
He has one piece of advice for pathologists who attend this webinar.
- Dr. David Novis
Mistakes are inevitable. You can learn from them. Don't fear them. Here are three experienced pathologists telling the mistakes they made. They may learn from those specific blunders, but there's a bigger message there that you make mistakes, you build on them.
- Speaker #0
The webinar takes place on March 3rd at 1 p.m. Central Time and will also be moderated by the CAP's Dr. Grant Williams. with member panelists Dr. Matthew Denicola, Dr. Stephen Ruby, and Dr. Emily Volk.
That's all for today. Be sure to watch your inbox for more news like this in the CAP's Advocacy Newsletter every Tuesday and our Weekly Edition Newsletter every Thursday. We'll be back tomorrow at 5 a.m. Eastern Time for another episode of The Daily Edition. I'm Dafna Farkas. Have a great day.