Type of Practice: Family practice in busy suburb of Los Angeles
 
Number of Physicians:13 physicians (5 Internists, 8 Family Practitioners)
 
SMARTLab; Opened: June 2006
 
Previous lab services: Relied on reference laboratories
 
Testing volume: Currently see an average of 65 patients a day in the lab: testing volume first month of operation: 270 orders per week; up to almost 500 orders per week just 5 months into operation of the lab
 
Impact on practice: "Adding an on-site laboratory to our practice has greatly improved the quality of the testing our patients receive.  Greater control over the testing process has improved patient satisfaction and the practice physicians are very pleased with the enhanced test results and the decreased turnaround times. The improved speed of testing also gives the physicians and the practice management team access to critical information when we need it."
 
Lessons learned: "We can rely on POLESTAR and the SMARTLab; team for insight and guidance on issues that would take us months to figure out, if ever.  We rely on them to share their experience and let us know where others have found pitfalls so we don’t have to make them."

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