Order your own labs services

[Emergent, RN]

I saw an ad on Facebook where you can order your own labs. Their doctors sign off on it and you are sent to your closest independent lab, one of 2 major lab chains.

Their prices are reasonable and you avoid an office visit. Now that everyone has these ridiculous deductibles, this might help us healthy people monitor ourselves more inexpensively.

Anything that gives me the reins to my own healthcare is a big plus, in my opinion. I hope the government doesn't shut this down. I plan on using this service.

[caliotter3]

I also saw an ad on the internet for getting your own CPAP prescription. I would like to see one for getting a prescription for a continous glucose monitoring setup. A shame when one can't count on their PCP to take that extra step.

[brownbook]

Deleted: double post.

[brownbook]

I guess health care is being outsourced! At a check up with my PCP, one recommended vaccination would be covered, two others wouldn't, she told me to get them at my pharmacy they wouldn't cost as much.

Simple, easy to understand, health insurance coverage examples like these seem to indicate our health care insurance is 😜 crazy.

[JKL33]

This definitely has its positives and negatives.

I would be against any licensed provider having to sign off on what the patient decides to order.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well, it can definitely be useful for us here.

On the other hand, let's assume that Mr. K, 49, suddenly decides to check himself over like that with BMP, CBC and lipid profile and random testosterone because he just read about it in "Man's Health" magazine while waiting for his buddies to drink some beer and watch a game with. Results: chol 257, trigs 389, glucose 198, Hb 10.5, WBC 28, BMP WNL except cr. 1.2, BUN 34, GFR 45. Testosterone WNL.He is 6'2'', 305 lbs. He feels just fine otherwise.

So, what he is going to do with all that, and who is going to work on that differential of anemia and leucocytosis (which can be whatever from iron deficiency and slight case of, say, UTI to malignancy)? Who is going to have that talk with him about risk factors, losing weight, etc.? If the answer on both by whoever signed the slips is "I do not know, it's up to Mr. K - I just sign the scripts they send me" - then it is kinda not OK. At least with me, it is not OK.

[KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN]

Well, it can definitely be useful for us here.

On the other hand, let's assume that Mr. K, 49, suddenly decides to check himself over like that with BMP, CBC and lipid profile and random testosterone because he just read about it in "Man's Health" magazine while waiting for his buddies to drink some beer and watch a game with. Results: chol 257, trigs 389, glucose 198, Hb 10.5, WBC 28, BMP WNL except cr. 1.2, BUN 34, GFR 45. Testosterone WNL.He is 6'2'', 305 lbs. He feels just fine otherwise.

So, what he is going to do with all that, and who is going to work on that differential of anemia and leucocytosis (which can be whatever from iron deficiency and slight case of, say, UTI to malignancy)? Who is going to have that talk with him about risk factors, losing weight, etc.? If the answer on both by whoever signed the slips is "I do not know, it's up to Mr. K - I just sign the scripts they send me" - then it is kinda not OK. At least with me, it is not OK.

[Buckeye.nurse]

Or have a good relationship with your PCP, many of whom have online services such as Mychart where you can e-mail concerns or issues. My MD is very good about listening to my concerns. She will be honest if she thinks I need to come in to be seen, but will often just order a script or a lab if the issue seems clear cut through e-mail.

[KelRN215, BSN, RN]

Or have a good relationship with your PCP, many of whom have online services such as Mychart where you can e-mail concerns or issues. My MD is very good about listening to my concerns. She will be honest if she thinks I need to come in to be seen, but will often just order a script or a lab if the issue seems clear cut through e-mail.

I agree. When I think I need labs, I email my Endocrinologist and tell him my symptoms. He responds to tell me he's placed an order in the computer and I have my labs drawn at my convenience.

[AutumnBlaze]

It's my understanding that several of the lab companies, such as Lab Corp., do this. I have also been told that one of our local hospitals allows this, though I cannot personally confirm it. My friend uses their services, since she has very limited insurance.