for Medical Laboratory Professionals
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Lab Limelight: Wellness Testing - An Ounce of Prevention
by Todd Smith, Assistant Editor

Early detection is the best defense. Serious medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes can dwell in a patient’s system for long periods of time without them ever being the wiser. But by taking charge of their own health through routine clinical testing, individuals can prevent disease and increase their chances of reversing potential problem areas.

Experts contend, however, that due to a misdirected health care focus, this task is not always carried out.American’s health care structure is a treatment-oriented system, as health care providers often encounter people only when they are sick. Preventative medicine may, in fact, be the key to reforming the healthcare system in this country, as the philosophy of the healthcare industry appears to be focused on curing disease rather than preventing it.

"Our healthcare system has been misdirected from the beginning," says Frank Coviello, director for new product development, Polymedco, Cortlandt Manor, NY. "Our healthcare system has always been directed toward curing the ill and not a preventive medicine."

Experts agree that a philosophy that encourages people to take charge of their wellness is necessary for a healthier America. And the direction of the health care system has been gradually evolving over the past 10 years. According to experts, the general philosophy of our health care system is transitioning from merely curing the ill to becoming equally cognizant, if not more cognizant, of preventing disease from the beginning.

Some changes in the Medicare system reflect such a transition. "When our Medicare system was first implemented, screening for disease was strictly forbidden, and screening processes were not covered by Medicare," Coviello tells ADVANCE. But over the past 10 years, prominent examples such as mammograms and prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening have emerged to help Medicare realize that if a few bucks are spent upfront, a lot more could be saved in the end.

Well Aware
The changes in the healthcare industry’s philosophy of wellness are concurring with changes in public perception. Coviello tells ADVANCE that the nation is now becoming extremely aware of the importance of wellness testing."People recognize that if they can control themselves, monitor themselves or detect abnormalities earlier, there is a better chance for a cure of some type, or at least control of any eventual disease," he says.On a par with the rise in wellness testing, awareness is accessibility to it. Medicare, for example, now offers some wellness testing, and there are point-of-care devices that are available either in a physician’s office or over the counter.

Well-Known Tests
The public is rapidly becoming aware of wellness tests and exactly what they involve. The most identifiable lab tests to the public, according to Covielle, include cholesterol tests, glucose tests, mammograms, and PSA testing.

Mammogram This radiographic procedure designed for early detection of breast cancer is one of the most popular forms of wellness testing and for good reason. According to experts, if Breast cancer is caught early enough, the chance for remission is greater than 90 percent.
PSA Prostate cancer also has a great success of cure if detected early. Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men, most prostate cancer is slow growing, as only 30 percent of men diagnosed with prostate cancer actually die from it. As individuals are more conscious of the dangers of prostate cancer, it is becoming common knowledge that a simple blood test can measure PSA levels, which may rise in the presence of prostate cancer.
GlucoseThe public has become very mindful of the importance of glucose testing, and such tests are employed at point of care as well as over the counter. Although over the counter glucose testing is designed for known diabetics, some experts classify the monitoring of a diabetic’s glucose level as wellness testing. The logic is that the strict control of blood glucose levels leads to a dramatic reduction in the complications associated with diabetes.
Cholesterol Perhaps the most popular form of wellness testing is the cholesterol test. It has been well documented throughout the past several years that high levels of certain cholesterol can lead to heart disease. "Everyone in the United States is familiar with cholesterol testing," says Coviello. "It is common knowledge that keeping your cholesterol under control will dramatically reduce the odds of some type of cardiovascular disease or event."

Direct Wellness
A more recent addition to the wellness-testing repertoire is the use of the e-laboratory to help patients monitor their own health. New Internet lab services are allowing people to go online and order tests on their own. Buying medical tests straight from commercial testing labs and Internet brokers provides both easy access and privacy.

Companies such as Direct Laboratory Services, Inc., Mandeville, LA, provide direct testing in which consumers log into a website and choose from a menu of tests for several disorders, including diabetes, lyme disease, hepatitis, and prostate cancer. Upon selecting the desired test, the customer is directed to a local lab in their area where the test is performed. The tests ordered are the same lab tests ordered by physicians and analyzed by the same certified, accredited clinical laboratories."Consumers are demanding more ability to manage administrative functions regarding their health care using the Internet," says Robert W. Ban, PhD, Chairman and CEO, Quantimetrix, Redondo Beach, CA. "Going on-line will offer consumers more say in the management of their health."

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