Hi Frank,

It's up to the patient on how they want to proceed. The way we prefer it, the patient has us send the findings to the doctor, as well as the patient. It's the best way to facilitate a conversation about the often very important issues raised.

There's a terrific book called “How Doctors Think” by Dr. Jerome Groopman at Harvard. He says patients need to ask their doctors smart questions that disrupt their thought process. He's right, of course, but the trouble is how are you supposed to do that as a patient? You can't possibly get the level of knowledge and experience that your doctor has.

Our reports make it possible for patients to play that role with their doctors. One of our most important goals in each case is to make sure our findings become a key part of that decision-making process. In this sense, we act as a kind of decision support, as well as a clinical advocate. But it's all about whatever it takes to make sure that member gets themselves the right care.

Evan