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Life Laboratory is here for you and your health care Together we can transform health care from what it is to what it should be and can be.
We can do this by working with you, the patients of health care, and your physician practices who subscribe to become “living laboratories of research.” Together we will demonstrate models of care that we can all value. Life Laboratory is a non-profit organization founded in February of 2006. Life Laboratory is first and foremost a partnership between patients and doctors. As we are all patients, the health care model is our model. Life Laboratory is led by patients and physicians, all of whom are dedicated to research and education on the best models of care. Our research is intended to demonstrate the best way for primary care physicians and their patients to achieve quality, safety, access, and lower costs. “Some men see things as they are and say why – I dream things that never were and say why not.” (George Bernard Shaw). Together we can accept the challenge of health care, why not? Life Laboratory’s partnership of patients and physicians has accepted a mission to solve world-sized problems in world-class ways. Most of us have many stories to tell. Some stories relate how the health care system and special people have allowed us and our families to share nearly miraculous experiences. On the other hand, most of us also have a story to tell about how the process of navigating the maze of health care has resulted in some disappointing experiences. Let’s visit the true story of Mary. A couple of years ago, she saw her family physician with whom she has had and continues to have a long and valued relationship. She saw him for what they both believed to be a routine physical hopefully to confirm good health. All appeared well except for a concern about her abdominal aorta (the largest artery in the abdomen) for which an ultrasound was done to rule-out an aneurysm. Thankfully, the aorta proved to be normal. However, the ultrasound detected an incidental mass in an area that had never caused Mary any symptoms [Mary’s right ovary]. Her family physician then attempted to get a CAT scan to best define what was going on in the Mary’s pelvis and abdomen. Mary and her doctor then learned that this CAT scan needed to be “pre-authorized.” Therefore her doctor placed a phone call to a person who does pre-certifications for Mary’s health insurance company. The first person to respond to the request did not have a medical background but had “standard” pre-cert questions to ask. That person denied the doctor’s request. Mary’s doctor then appealed to the pre-cert nurse, and was denied again! Mary’s doctor made a third phone call to the Medical Director of the “Pre-Cert Company.” The Medical Director apologized to the doctor and immediately granted the pre-authorization for Mary to have her CAT scan of the pelvis and abdomen. Mary then went on to get best care and had required surgery and subsequent chemotherapy for her ovarian cancer. Life Laboratory is also dedicated to the transparent measurement and reporting of health care performance by health care professionals. Transparency should also apply to “full disclosure” of health care benefits. The requirements and restrictions of health care insurance such as pre-certifications, formulary restrictions [limited access to insurance company-selected medications], and limited provider networks should be apparent and easily accessible prior to and at the point of care. Life Laboratory is dedicated to research on models of care that improve the process of care as well as access to care. Health care change is inevitable. Life Laboratory provides a “demonstration of proof-of-concept” that will help to lead this change. Life Laboratory will select practices that are willing to be “living laboratories” so that we can research many vital issues of needed change. Health care change needs a village. The Friends of Life Laboratory is an organization of patients who have invited all patients to help create the village that will work together in order to define the best and most deliverable health care model for all. As we journey together as a village dedicated to quality change, we will choose research projects that are most meaningful to our mission. Some of these research projects are: 1) A pre-certification study that will report on the current processes, and how we can change the pre-cert process and improve our outcomes. 2) Information technology [Electronic Medical Records] – this study will demonstrate how bringing affordable state-of-information to the point of care can improve care. 3) Adherence study – this study explores which models of care and methods are most successful in achieving our goals for preventive care and for early and effective disease management. Additionally, another project warrants Life Laboratory research. That issue is how time and the relationship of a patient with a physician, especially with a primary care physician, can have a profound and most desirable outcome. Time and relationship with your physician must be restored and/or preserved. Our research and education mission also offers many value-added benefits. One example is our need to help solve the current primary care crisis in the United States. Many highly respected sources warn us of a worsening shortage of primary care physicians. Also, since 2001, fewer than 50% of the first year Family Medicine Residency positions have been filled by US MD graduating seniors. The number of first year residency positions has fallen from a high of 3,293 in 1998 and was 2,654 in 2008. In 2008 37% of the first year residency positions were filled by international medical school graduates (non-U.S.). As we strive to improve our health care model, Life Laboratory results may offer value by helping us rebuild our infrastructure of primary care physicians. Life Laboratory is a non-profit organization that exists solely by the financial support through donations and research grants. Life Laboratory and The Friends of Life Laboratory seek philanthropic support so as to fulfill the mission. Life Laboratory is about your health care model. Consider joining The Friends of Life Laboratory and help create the village that will make a difference. With your involvement, Life Laboratory will continue its commitment to do research on the most meaningful goals to you, the “patients of health care.” The outcomes of our research will lead the way towards responsible improvements. Please visit the website of Life Laboratory at www.lifelaboratory.org, and consider sharing your health care story; we will keep your name confidential. Please consider joining our mailing list and The Friends of Life Laboratory through our website. Life Laboratory by David J. Badolato, MD, Founder |