Education and the physician's office laboratory

Abstract

The field of physicians' office laboratory testing has witnessed an increase in test volume and advances in technology, but little attention to educational issues. If this field is to continue to grow and to perform high-quality testing, primary care physicians will need to be trained in the role of laboratory director. Office staff will require "in the office" continuing education. Formal technician and technologist training will need to focus some attention on office test procedures. The development of these new educational programs will require the cooperative efforts of primary care physician educators, pathologists, allied health faculty, and the diagnostic equipment industry.