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Patients who receive Galaxy’s kits often require assistance finding a service to collect the samples. The novel coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated this issue for specialty laboratory testing specifically. Many physicians have converted their practices to telemedicine and hospitals have put stricter guidelines into place, leaving patients to find other means for specimen collection.
Phlebotomy is the term used by medical professionals to describe “puncturing a vein for the purposes of drawing blood”. Phlebotomists are individuals trained in aseptic blood collection and sample processing procedures. Since blood analyses are a routine part of health screening, phlebotomists are necessary pieces of the healthcare puzzle.
The Problem
Even before we entered the COVID-19 era, healthcare providers and medical facilities were increasingly outsourcing their phlebotomy services. This meant that patients had to see employees of laboratory specialty companies to have their blood drawn. Sometimes it’s not obvious that you are seeing an employee from a different company if you’re at a large facility where those employees are placed in the office. Decreasing reimbursement for phlebotomy and the economies of scale from these services mean that large facilities can save as much as 20% on their phlebotomy costs by outsourcing.
COVID-19 has further accelerated outsourcing. Physicians can run completely virtual appointments and then send a patient to a phlebotomy facility for the laboratory work. Large laboratory networks offer advanced computerized services that can blend seamlessly with the physician’s own system. The physician just selects the desired laboratory services and the electronic order is immediately created.
The benefit to the large laboratory systems that offer these services is that all orders for a particular facility or medical office are locked into their services. They can offer enormous testing menus, but a problem arises when you need something that is not on their menu. They generally will not offer services for a specialty lab.
Consequently the patient may be left holding a specialty lab testing kit, such as one from Galaxy Diagnostics, that was provided to them by their doctor but cannot be filled by the phlebotomy service their doctor is contracted with or generally uses.
Finding a Service
Galaxy Diagnostics has a relationship with Any Lab Test Now. You can take the kit from your doctor to their facility and have your blood drawn for a fee. The benefit of getting a kit through your doctor is that you will likely be able to submit the costs to your insurance company. Patients can also order testing themselves through Any Lab Test Now, though insurance may not cover that.
Unfortunately, Any Lab Test Now isn’t everywhere. What if you can’t find a testing facility, or what if you are at high risk for COVID-19 and don’t feel comfortable going into a testing facility at this time?
Galaxy has a blood draw services webpage that lists companies that offer sample collection services for specialty test kits. The service requirements and associated fees vary, but those that are listed have worked with Galaxy patients across the United States. These companies may have a standard brick and mortar facility that patients can travel to or they may offer a mobile phlebotomy service.
Mobile phlebotomy is an important option for many patients seeking sample collection for specialty testing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mobile phlebotomists can travel to a patient’s home and collect the blood following the same procedures they would in a medical facility. While insurance may pay for mobile phlebotomy services in some cases, patients usually report that they have to pay the fee themselves.
Conclusion
We hear the frustration when patients receive a Galaxy Diagnostics test kit from their doctor and then can’t find a phlebotomist who will draw their blood for the kit. Market forces mean that most phlebotomists found at doctor’s offices and medical centers in the community are not independent but work for large laboratories. Please use the website link to find independent phlebotomy services and contact us if you need further assistance locating an independent phlebotomist service.
References
Scott, K. (2017). To outsource or not to outsource. Available at: https://www.aacc.org/publications/cln/articles/2017/april/to-outsource-or-not-to-outsource-hospitals-face-touch-decisions-when-it-comes-to-lab-services
The Dark Intelligence Group. (2020). Northwell Health Labs uses mobile phlebotomy app to better serve patients, increase test volume and revenue during COVID-19 outbreak. Available at:
http://covid19briefings.com/2020/05/11/northwell-lab-uses-mobile-phlebotomy-app-to-better-serve-patients-increase-test-volume-and-revenue/