Introduction
Background
PA Labs represents the union of two distinguished laboratory testing facilities, Pathologists Associated and Follas Labs.
Historical Information
Pathologists Associated was established in 1966 as an independent hospital laboratory in Muncie, Ind., by four Ball Memorial Hospital pathologists who had a strong desire to retain independence as a pathology group. In the early 1970s, Pathologists Associated began to seek work outside the hospital to bolster its marketplace as an independent laboratory. Pathologists Associated joined with the Ball Memorial Hospital Laboratory in September 1988 in a joint venture. Today, company headquarters is located in Muncie, where the main testing facility also is located.
Evan Follas and Dr. Dan Follas established Follas Labs in 1979 to serve the Indianapolis metropolitan area. The lab started by performing a single test: the Hemoglobin A1C, for diabetes. Today, Follas Labs provides a broad range of laboratory testing serves throughout the state from a main testing facility in Indianapolis and branch locations in Fort Wayne, Kokomo and Evansville.
Patient Service Centers are located in Fort Wayne, Muncie, Indianapolis, Evansville, Anderson, Angola, Churubusco, Grabill, Lafayette, Noblesville, Vincennes, Warsaw and Zionsville.
PA Labs is dedicated to providing the highest quality medical laboratory services through the use of precision instrumentation, extensive quality assurance procedures and a highly trained staff.
Services
PA Labs offers a wide array of tests in both free-standing Patient Service Centers and fully staffed laboratories located in physician offices and clinics. In addition, laboratory testing services are provided to physicians, clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, industrial and commercial clients. PA Labs' courier services to healthcare facilities throughout the state means quicker turnaround times for test results. More than 98 percent of tests are performed locally and results provided within 24 hours. Physicians can access test results on a secure website, further minimizing delays in informing patients of test results.
Available tests include specialties in anatomic pathology, hematology, hemostasis, thrombosis, employment drug testing, cytopathology, immunohematology, toxicology, immunology, endocrinology, microbiology and flow cytometry.
Innovations
PA Labs was among the first laboratories in the nation to provide Internet access for physicians to place orders and receive reports electronically, providing faster and more accurate results. Using WebPAL (Web Enabled Physician's Access Link), physicians can order tests, print specimen labels, receive test results, track orders, review a full catalog of specimen requirements and turnaround times, and receive cumulative reports and result graphing.
Through WebSCORE (Web Enabled Server Charts On Request Electronically), physicians can view patient results from anywhere they have internet access within minutes of test completion. Results are security coded to protect patient information. Cumulative reports can be viewed and trends graphed quickly and easily.
WebPAL and WebSCORE were cited in 2002 when PA Labs received the iNnovative Business Award for using technology to improve the patient/ physician encounter. The Innovative Business Award, sponsored by Inside Indiana Business, recognizes the unique innovations Indiana companies have made that have a significant impact on the economic climate within the state.
Employees
PA Labs has more than 550 employees in 52 locations throughout Indiana, working under the direction of board-certified pathologists. Many employees are highly skilled in various medical careers such as lab assistants, medical technologists, cytotechnologists and phlebotomists. Other staff positions include couriers and general laboratory support. PA Labs works with its employees to improve current services and establish new ones to meet the needs of patients and clients throughout Indiana.
PA Labs is affiliated with the Ball Memorial Hospital Medical Technology Program, educating future laboratory professionals to become competent in performing laboratory procedures accurately with an understanding of the ethical requirements of the field of laboratory medicine.
Licensing
PA Labs are fully accredited by the College of American Pathologists and maintain Medicare and all required state licenses as independent clinical laboratories. PA Labs adheres to all Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.
Client Base
- Community Hospitals
- Individual Physicians' Offices
- Group Physician Practices
- Clinics
- Nursing Homes
- Industrial and Commercial Clients