[Histonet] Histonet Digest, Vol 141, Issue 4Surgical Pathologist Benchmark

[Steve McClain]

The best benchmark is the one you derive with your personnel and your pathologists in your system. 
The benchmark number you seek is not readily available because work is primarily dependent on the efficiency of your system of reporting, whether the pathologist has to spend time proofreading the gross descriptions, how organized the lab is at presenting cases, mechanisms for minimizing errors in identification, whether the pathologist is acquiring images and finally pathologist compensation and rewards.  For an experienced pathologist, working in an efficient system, the upper limit could be as high as 500-700 specimens  per shift. For less efficient systems and less experienced pathologists the upper limit may be as low as low as 50-100 specimens.

Steve A. McClain, MD

> On Aug 4, 2015, at 13:11, "histonet-request at lists.utsouthwestern.edu" <histonet-request at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
>   On Monday, August 3, 2015 5:20 PM, "Vickroy, James via Histonet" <histonet at lists.utsouthwestern.edu> wrote:
> 
> 
> I realize this is a question that may be impossible to answer given all of the variables in pathology labs, specimens, physicians, etc.? However here goes:? For those that work in a lab that primarily does biopsies ( mainly gi biopsies) what is the average number of slides that a pathologist reads each day.? ? I have looked online for parameters recommended however I haven't had a whole lot of luck.? There are plenty of figures on numbers of blocks and slides for histotechs but just wondered if anyone was using any either national benchmarks or local practices.