Clinical Scorecard: Patient Clinics in Pathology's Evolution

At a Glance

Key Highlights

• The article describes pathology explanation clinics as connecting patients directly with the pathologist who examined their tissue.
• The author argues that plain-language explanations can help patients understand findings and take an active role in treatment decisions.
• The article says direct explanation can free ordering physicians' appointment time for treatment planning rather than report interpretation.
• The author reports that such clinics have been established at Mayo Clinic in Rochester and Florida, Duke Health, Tufts Medical, Endeavor Health, Michigan Medicine, and other institutions.
• The author describes benefits for patient engagement, institutional satisfaction and loyalty, and pathologists' sense of purpose.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Management

Monitoring & Follow-up

Risks

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients whose care depends on pathology findings, including patients who may find pathology reports difficult to interpret.

The article discusses communication and care-model benefits, not medication prescribing or treatment regimens.

Clinical Best Practices

• The author describes explaining pathology findings directly to patients in plain language.
• The author describes using the slide, stains, and findings to show how tissue evidence relates to the diagnosis.
• The author argues that direct explanations can help patients ask questions and take an active role in treatment decisions.
• The author says direct explanations can leave ordering physicians more appointment time for treatment planning.

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