1. ORGANIZATION:
   1. The Pathology Department will be directed professionally by the Director of Laboratories, who will be certified by the American Board of Pathology. This pathologist and his associates in pathology will be members of the active medical staff. Pathology practice coverage will be at these pathologists' discretion either under locum tenens conditions or in the courtesy or consulting staff category.

2. PROCEDURES:
1. Tests/examinations generally will be performed according to procedures lists in the laboratory procedure manuals or references thereof. Exceptions may occur in consideration of unusual circumstances and with proper authorization and/or prior consultation with the pathologists.
2. In both surgical pathology and the clinical laboratory, the pathologist will sometimes need to (on a case-by-case basis) override, modify, or add to the ordering physician's test/exam request. This decision by the pathologist will be based on his professional medical judgment, keeping the best interest of the patient in mind.

 

3. MEMBERSHIP/PRIVILEGES:

In order to be considered for Pathology clinical privileging, a physician must:

1. Be board certified by the American Board of Pathology or the American Osteopathic Board of Pathology, or
2. Have successfully completed an anatomic and/or clinical pathology residency-training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or an American Osteopathic Association-approved pathology residency-training program

Privilege categories are utilized as follows:

Active Staff - those pathologists associated with the Director of Laboratories, as outlined above, and in the full time practice of pathology at Lexington Medical Center;

Courtesy Staff - pathologists who regularly provide coverage for members of the active staff;

Consulting Staff - those pathologists who consult at the request of the patient's attending physician or active or courtesy staff pathologist.

For a period of time deemed appropriate, all new staff members or locum tenens will begin to function at a "first assistant" stage. Beginning with elevation to independent weekend coverage, the pathologist will have full privileges on being deemed able to independently cover the hospital practice during weekdays. Such elevation to full status will ordinarily progress at a rate proportional to quantity and quality of work in the department and to general commitment to departmental affairs.

Delineation of privileges requested and those granted are determined individually and recommended after appropriate review. It is not appropriate or customary to recommend "B" category" privileges to any but active staff.