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Why Lab Logistics are More Important Now Than Ever

Lab logistics are an essential element of laboratories worldwide, and it is imperative to consider the transportation of your lab specimens. Especially nowadays, with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases spreading rapidly across an interconnected world, safe and reliable lab courier services are more crucial than ever before.

In the United States, the global lab logistics industry costs reached $9.3 trillion. That is near twice the market costs in Europe. As the logistics market continues to grow for laboratories worldwide, it is critical to understand how this will impact your lab moving forward.

This article examines this by considering some of the significant changes to the global laboratory system after the COVID-19 pandemic began.

The Importance of Lab Courier Services

Lab logistics have been an essential part of the medical world for a very long time. They ensure that specimens and supplies are delivered quickly, efficiently, and safely from point A to point B.

These days, it is not just the laboratory that needs to be concerned with the safe transportation of their specimen, but also any third party involved in delivering these samples between labs or institutions. Global trade continues to expand, and international regulations continue changing. For this reason, there will undoubtedly be new opportunities for providers in this field.

Top 3 Factors in Selecting a Lab Logistics Courier

Ninety-eight percent of inpatients require lab testing. Laboratory management professionals must stay on top of current trends. This information will allow for educated decisions about how best to utilize and allocate resources when considering lab logistics.

Here are the three factors to consider when selecting a lab logistics courier.

1. Performance and Reliability

Laboratory management professionals must consider the reliability and performance of any potential lab logistics courier before choosing which specimen courier service will best meet their needs. Therefore, if you are looking for a lab courier who will outperform the competition, pay attention to precision and accessibility. Time is imperative for a patient who is waiting for the results of a tissue biopsy.

2. Supply Chain Management

Safeguarding these lifesaving and valuable materials means following strict guidelines for handling them. Specimens can carry infectious agents. Therefore, handling processes should minimize the risks posed by these items. A quality support team will work diligently to prepare their healthcare supply chain to manage such shipments.

3. Value of Technology

Clinical labs are currently investing in technologies that can provide a more localized lab experience. It does this by speeding up processes and considering the economic benefits of centralized services. Proper logistics are especially critical not only post COVID-19 but in today’s world.

Path-Tec Knows the Importance of Choosing the Right Lab Logistics Courier

Since COVID-19 began, hospitals and medical offices have depended on labs to diagnose various conditions quickly and accurately, ensuring the best treatment plans. The success of medical diagnosis is based on lab logistics and choosing the best specimen courier service for your laboratory.

Path-Tec has been providing innovative solutions for laboratories since 2005. Path-Tec understands the challenges associated with preanalytical processes and has created supply management services to take care of this concern. They also provide inventory control, specimen transport logistics, as well as a client management technology.

Path-Tec can provide you the peace of mind necessary for your specimen courier needs. Contact us today for more information.

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What to Look for In Your Job Search

What to Look for In Your Georgia Job Search

Often when looking for a job, it’s easy to focus on convincing companies in the medical field that you are the best fit for the position. While this is important, it’s just as important to ascertain if this is the right fit for you. If this job will fulfill you, think about what you will gain from the role, and if the company is a good match for you.

So, how do you do this? Well, there are a few simple questions you can ask yourself (and the company during an interview) that can help you come to the best possible decision. Below, we’ve put together seven questions to ask yourself before applying for or accepting your next job.

Seven questions to ask yourself before applying for a job:

Will I Make a Difference?

Finding a job that pays the bills and actually helps people can be extremely rewarding. You are not simply going to work each day, but you are also actively helping people and contributing to your community.

Will I Love My Job?

The famous phrase rings true here, “Find a job that you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” If you are able to do something that you really love each day, seize the opportunity with both hands.

Will it Fit My Personality?

Before you look for your next role, figure out what you do and don’t enjoy. Different personalities thrive in different environments. Some people excel in client-facing roles while others don’t. It’s crucial to find a position that ticks these personality-fitting boxes.

Do the Company’s Values Align with Mine?

It’s important to work for a company that shares the same core values and morals as you do. Does the company’s culture reinforce all the things you stand for? At the end of the day, no job or employee should make you question your integrity.

Do They Promote Work-Life Balance?

Work to live, don’t live to work. Make sure the position in question provides you with an on-going work-life balance. Understandably, this might be hard to gauge before you start work, but be sure to ask about this essential criteria in the interview.

Will They Show Appreciation?

Work for a company that really appreciates its employees. This may be in the form of a bonus, perhaps recognition for hard work, or simply giving you the day off on your birthday. These small acts of kindness from employee to employer can make a world of difference.

Do They Offer Opportunity Growth?

If you have aspirations to grow within a company, make sure they offer the right environment and opportunities for your career to evolve. Be sure to ask about the scope for growth in your interview so you can get a good idea of what opportunities may lie ahead of you.

Join Our Team

Looking for a Columbus, Georgia job that offers you all this and more? Path-Tec provides a team-oriented, comfortable work environment and opportunities for growth and advancement. Plus, you will receive a $300 sign-on bonus as well as production bonuses for paid performance.

At Path-Tec, we offer innovative client supply, logistics, and technology solutions to help laboratories thrive in today’s healthcare environment. As a specimen management company, Path-Tec has been delivering innovative specimen and client management solutions since 2005.

Currently, we have the following positions available: Production Specialists, Team Leaders and Supervisors, Distribution Specialists, Team Leaders and Supervisors, Inventory Specialists, Team Leaders and Supervisors, Account Managers, Customer Service Specialists.

Looking for meaningful and fulfilling jobs in Columbus, GA? With us, you’ll be working for a laboratory logistics company that is making a difference in patients’ lives every day. If you’d like to find out more about Path-Tec laboratory logistics company, visit our website. Or, if you’d like to learn about our medical field jobs listed above, visit our career page.

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Visit Our Path-Tec January 2021 Job Fair

New year, new job! Are you looking for a job that makes a difference? Well, this might be the year you join Path-Tec. At Path-Tec, we offer innovative client supply, logistics, and technology solutions to help laboratories thrive in today’s healthcare environment. Our company is rapidly expanding and, as a result, we have a wide range of positions to fill. In order to attract the best talent and showcase all that our company offers potential employees, Path-Tec invites you to the Path-Tec Columbus Job Fair.

The Path-Tec Columbus Job Fair will take place on Friday the 15th of January from 9 am-3 pm at the Columbus Georgia Convention Center. Interviews, background checks, drug tests, and COVID-19 tests will all be performed onsite. Rest assured, strict COVID-19 protocol and protection measures will be fully implemented throughout our Path-Tec event. As always, your safety and the safety of our staff is of paramount importance.

Open Positions at Path-Tec

Path-Tec has a range of new and exciting positions available. We are hiring positions for customer support, account managers, production, distribution, inventory, quality, and more! As a rapidly growing company, we are looking for talented, hardworking individuals to fill the following positions as soon as possible:

Account Coordinator

Accounts Payable

Bagline Machine Operator

Batch Specialist

Continuous Improvement Mgr.

Customer Service

Cycle Counter

Director of Sales

Distribution Puller

Distribution Shipper

Enterprise Account Manager

Executive Account Manager

Filling Technician

Forklift Operator Inventory

Icon Production

Icon Team Lead

Implementation Coordinator

Inventory Supervisor

Material Handler

Order Expeditor

Order Processor

Print Specialist

Production

Prod. Supervisor 2nd Shift

Prod. Supervisor 3rd Shift

Quality Assurance Mgr.

Receptionist

Reasons to Work at Path-Tec

On top of being a great place to work, Path-Tec has many employee benefits that include performance bonuses and ample career advancement opportunities. At Path-Tec, you can expect the following:

$300 Sign-On Bonus

Performance Bonuses

2nd & 3rd Shift Pay Differentials

Sat/Sun: Work 2 Day, 12-Hour Shifts, Get Paid for 36 Hours

Opportunities for Career Growth

Join Our Team Today

Path-Tec has been delivering innovative specimen and client management solutions since 2005, and we understand the challenges that laboratories encounter with their pre-analytical processes. Our client support solutions include supply and kit management, inventory management, specimen and supply logistics, and client management technology.

As a specialty specimen management company, we understand the importance of specimen integrity, so we work with laboratories to design kits that assist with proper specimen collection and protection, meet transportation regulations, and include tools to track specimens. We allow the laboratory to focus on their core competencies while we focus on reducing their time and costs associated with the specimen collection process.

If you’d like to find out more about Path-Tec laboratory logistics company, visit our website. Or, if you’d like to learn about each role listed above, visit our career page. If you’d like to be considered for a position, download our Job Fair Application or complete one on our website here.

Looking for an exclusive job fair in Columbus, GA? Path-Tec’s medical field job fair will be taking place at the Columbus Georgia Convention Center at 801 Front Avenue, Columbus, GA 31901.

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Why Laboratories Should Invest in Courier Management Services During COVID-19

The spread of COVID-19 has been a chief contributor to service delivery delays in many health systems that rely on couriers. Transportation of lab specimens from one location to another has faced significant challenges because of the pandemic’s disruptions.

Couriers engaged in transporting laboratory specimens have to battle with numerous challenges. They include minimal working hours, paused physician services, and drivers’ regulations to undergo symptoms’ inspections.

With all these factors, health and lab officials must go back to the drawing board to develop sustainable solutions. They must find ways to address the challenges that COVID-19 has presented to the health industry. Numerous labs have a hard time trying to gather enough specimens, as well as transporting their equipment to specific destinations.

Laboratories Should Reevaluate Their Sample Transportation Procedures

With the level at which COVID-19 has proven to weaken the transportation system for laboratories, it is prudent for the management to come up with proper strategies. They should reevaluate and establish approaches that can help to improve the sample’s transportation.

Here are the reasons why labs should invest in a reliable specimen courier.

1. Labs Can Track and Handle Their Specimens

With a specimen courier company, laboratories can effectively manage their samples. Professional courier tracking systems allow them to observe time in their procedures. Laboratories can monitor their supply inventory more accurately, which will help them improve their revenue.

2. It Helps Improve Security

One way to heighten the security of specimen samples and other lab equipment is by engaging high-quality medical courier management services. Through the driver tracking technology, companies can help their client know their specimen’s location all the time.

3. Courier Management Platforms Are Convenient

Companies like Path-Tec employ barcode scanning, GPS tracking, as well as an online gateway. This way clients can monitor the engaged driver to know the stops and routes they have observed. The labs can then identify the number of specimens they expect and the specific nature of tests required before the samples’ arrival.

4. Labs Can Observe Proper Planning

Online professional courier tracking can also help healthcare officials control their budgets. It ensures appropriate planning when it comes to staffing so laboratories know the exact time to perform their tests.

They can also determine the volume that is on the way and allocate duties according to the information they get from the service provider. That helps the management to avoid overstaffing for a specific task.

5. Courier Services Help Determine the Most Appropriate Route

Transporting the lab specimen during the COVID-19 pandemic requires competence, which lab couriers possess. Through the help of route-planning software, the service providers can save time by formulating an appropriate route. That way, the samples get to the desired destination on time and in good condition.

Every industry houses its own professionals who understand how to deal with specific challenges. Lab technicians and other health officials have their share of expertise, which is different from transportation logistics. Therefore, working with reputable medical courier services is even more important during COVID-19.

Building a long-term relationship with an experienced medical courier company has loads of benefits. The lab couriers can sacrifice to continue refining performance to ensure customer satisfaction.

A medical courier management company like Path-Tec can help health officials to observe consistency when it comes to delivering products and samples. That proves that it is wise to trust a high-quality courier service than trying to handle issues on your own.

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How Healthcare Companies Can Save Money During COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on hospitals and other healthcare institutions. In areas experiencing outbreaks, hospital staff members have been redeployed to handle COVID patients. Hospital rooms reserved for elective procedures have been turned into ICU beds. While these heroic actions have saved lives, they have challenged the finances of these organizations.

With the cancellation of elective surgeries and other routine healthcare procedures, many healthcare practices have seen a serious decline in revenue. Fortunately, this should be a temporary setback as researchers work toward a vaccine and the illness runs its course. In the meantime, every healthcare organization needs to look at ways to decrease spending until income levels return to normal.

Minimize Non-essential Spending

The COVID-19 pandemic provides several logistical challenges. To fulfill their primary purpose, healthcare institutions must ramp up certain parts of their operations. For example, processing COVID-19 specimen collection kits must have priority over other test results.

At the same time, these institutions must cut back on other sectors. Because income is not coming in as usual, healthcare institutions must take a serious look at their day-to-day operations as well as any planned special projects. Some healthcare practices have shifted their staff roles to prevent layoffs. Temporary furloughs may be necessary for nonessential staff. If your organization can pause new construction, renovations or other updates, it may help keep the facility within budget.

Negotiate with Vendors

The pandemic is a time when every part of the healthcare industry must work together. Most vendors understand that healthcare facilities are experiencing financial challenges. They also want to avoid the hit to their reputations that would come with a refusal to cooperate with healthcare providers. Your organization should reach out to its vendors to work out a temporary payment plan or discounted rates during the emergency. Cooperative vendors can leverage their participation into positive publicity.

Review Insurance Policies

Insurance coverage for healthcare organizations is expensive. It is a necessary budget item, but it does not provide an immediate benefit during a crisis. By contacting its insurance provider, a healthcare organization may be able to negotiate a reduced rate in light of the special circumstances. It is also possible that, due to COVID-19’s status as a national and state emergency, your institution may be able to make a claim for lost business revenue.

Outsource Logistics

Many of the people who get involved with healthcare and medicine do so because they are passionate about caring for others. It is not until they get involved with the hospital or laboratory setting that they realize the amount and cost of the logistics involved. Laboratory management is more than determining test results. Moving samples from a collection site to a lab safely and accurately is a critical part of patient care.

Outsourcing lab logistics can save your organization both time and money. Because the logistics partner specializes in working with healthcare organizations, it already has the necessary infrastructure to keep things running smoothly. In the case of COVID-19, partners like Path-Tec can reliably supply a hospital with COVID-19 specimen collection kits and transportation materials. We have the resources to handle the safe transport of specimens and can track their progress in real time. This frees your staff from several laboratory management duties while providing more accurate specimen information.

At Path-Tec, we are committed to helping healthcare facilities handle their logistical needs. When a hospital or lab partners with us, we take the burden of lab management out of their hands. Our lab logistics solutions allow hospital staff to order and receive supplies, register and track specimens and handle logistics billing efficiently. If you are looking for a money-saving logistics solution for your organization, contact us today for more information.

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The Importance of UN3373 Insulated Shippers

While the need to safely transport medical material has always been a priority, COVID-19 has made it more vital than ever. Diagnostics have exploded, and patients need answers right away. To make sure that your shipment arrives at its destination as quickly and securely as possible, UN3373 Insulated Shippers can provide the right kind of protection in a convenient package.

UN3373 Insulated Shippers provide safe transport for temperature-sensitive specimens for doctors. Whether blood and its components, tissue, or other fluids, UN3373 can provide secure shipping for diagnosis or investigation.

Here at Path-Tec, we know the pressure that doctors, labs, and hospitals are facing to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. We provide several options to help give you the speed and security with our UN3373 Shippers. By partnering with many different manufacturers, we have taken the confusion and delays out of shipping your specimens.

Please keep in mind if the source (either patient or animal) of your specimen is known to have a serious disease that can easily be transmitted and effective treatment is not readily available, it should be assigned either UN2814 or UN2900 as applicable.

Why Proper Transport is Vital for Medical Specimens

When you need answers in the medical field, every day counts. However, cutting corners to your shipment can result in unintended consequences.

If your specimen’s shipment is compromised, you can waste precious time and resources recollecting the specimen to send again. At worst, it can result in a misdiagnosis and compromise your patient’s care.

Many specimens require a specific temperature to make sure it is properly preserved. However, shipping warehouses and mail trucks can reach prohibitively high temperatures. The result is an unusable specimen. An insulated shipper will help it maintain the right temperature and ensure that the sample is useable at its destination.

Compromised specimens can also put other people at risk. A leak or spill can be dangerous for postal workers, recipients, and anyone nearby.

Cutting corners or relying on traditional containers can have serious costs. Taking proper precautions by using packaging made for the medical field ensures that you can get answers as quickly as possible.

What Packaging is Required for Safe Transport of Medical Specimens

To avoid any unnecessary risks, the UN3373 shipper is made up of three components. They consist of a leak-proof primary container, leak-proof secondary packaging, and an outer package. The outer package has adequate strength for its capacity, mass, and intended use, as well as at least one surface that has a minimum dimension of 100 mm x 100 mm.

In addition, if the specimen is a liquid, there should be enough absorbent material between the primary and secondary components. This way, there is no chance that liquid will escape the package, and the integrity of the cushioning material is not compromised.

If there are multiple containers in a single secondary package, each one needs to either be individually wrapped or somehow separated to prevent any contact.

Using the proper size shipper is another critical aspect of maintaining the specimen. If the packaging is too big or small, it could be compromised. UN3373 shippers come in four convenient sizes to make sure that each specimen is properly packed and secure:

• Small (9 QT) • Medium (15 QT) • Large (22 QT) • Extra-Large (85 QT)

Doctors, hospitals, and labs are under tremendous pressure to make sure their patients are getting the right care. Proper shipment of specimens is one problem that we can solve for you. Reach out to one of our experts to help you navigate your COVID-19 kitting needs.

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The Different Types of Specimen Collection Swabs

Normally, specimen collection swabs are not the type of thing that gets a lot of attention from the mainstream media. Of course, these aren’t normal times, so collection swabs have been front and center in recent months. With the need to rapidly scale testing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average person has learned more about collection swabs than they ever expected.

If you work in healthcare, swabs are a part of everyday life – and it’s important to always have the right swab available for the job at hand. Let’s take a quick look at the leading options on the market today.

Types of Tips

There are two main components that make up a specimen collection swab – the tip and the stem. In this section, we’ll discuss the popular tip options, and we’ll take a closer look at stems below.

The purpose of the tip of a specimen collection swab is always the same, regardless of its material or design. The tip is meant to collect a sample from the patient. Once a sample is collected, it can be moved appropriately to the lab for analysis. Some of the leading swab tip types are listed below.

Flock. The design of a flocked swab tip is meant to collect as many cells as possible from the patient, even when only a small area can be swabbed. By using polyester fibers and a flocked design, impressive results are achieved, and testing can be performed for many different reasons.

Cotton. This might be the first tip material that you think of when imagining a collection swab. While newer, high-tech materials have taken over more of the market, there is still room for a standard cotton swab in some applications. When swabbing the inside of the mouth, for example, the softness of a cotton tip is a good selection.

Foam. It is the absorptive nature of foam that makes it particularly qualified for some types of specimen collection. Liquids are easily collected by foam swabs, and plenty of tip sizes are available so the swab can be tailored perfectly to the task at hand.

Rayon. You may be able to opt for a rayon tip in many of the same situations that would call for cotton. And, while rayon can offer many of the same performance benefits as cotton, it can come at a lower cost.

Stem Considerations

While the stem of the swab is not what will do the actual collecting of the sample, it will help the healthcare professional access the testing site. For instance, the preferred site for COVID-19 testing is the nasopharyngeal area. To reach that spot with a swab, a flexible plastic stem is the tool of choice. However, if flexibility is not required, such as when swabbing the cheek, it might be sufficient to use a wood stem.

Another point to keep in mind regarding swab stems is the breakpoint. Many tests require the tip of the swab to be broken off in a tube before transport to the lab. To make that easier, the stem is thinner in a strategic location, so it will break in that spot when bent. As you order your swabs, be sure to pay attention to the location of the breakpoint on the stem and compare that with the vials that will be used for transport.

A Look into the Future

3D printing is an exciting new technology that is making an impact in a variety of markets. With rapid prototyping possible, 3D printing technology allows for swabs to be designed and created in a very short period of time. This has been done for COVID-19 testing to help fill the shortage of swabs and is likely to be used moving forward in various applications.

Stock Up Today

Specimen swabs may garner added attention during a pandemic, but they are always important. Whether it is testing for COVID-19 or any of the countless other issues that can affect the human body, using the right swab is crucial. For quality specimen collection supplies at competitive prices, work with Path-Tec to fill your needs. Contact us today to learn more or to seek assistance from our knowledgeable team. Thank you for visiting Path-Tec!

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Be Your Company’s Healthcare Logistics Hero

In logistics, it’s hard to have the best of both worlds. When you cut costs, you usually have to make performance sacrifices. In fact, managing the logistics of your business often comes down to striking the right balance between saving money and getting the job done.

But what if you didn’t have to make that trade? For healthcare and laboratory companies, it’s possible to get better results and save money by turning to an outsourced fleet services provider. Taking your courier work outside the company comes with a whole host of advantages. Below, we’ll identify three specific benefits of outsourcing your courier work.

Outsourcing Benefit #1 – Control Payroll Costs

Payroll is the largest single expense for many businesses and controlling how much of your budget is directed toward personnel is critical to the bottom line. Of course, employees who perform core functions are essential to your business, but other roles may be better handled by an outside contractor.

That’s exactly the case in regard to courier services. Rather than paying employees like drivers and dispatchers to manage the job, turn the task over to professionals who aren’t on your payroll. Your costs will be controlled, and the job will get done properly time after time. Remember, you aren’t just saving wages here – benefits like healthcare, retirement, paid vacation, and more all add up.

Outsourcing Benefit #2 – Masters of Efficiency

Professional courier services are in the business of efficiency. They want to get the job done safely and quickly, so they can move on to the next pickup and delivery. Mastering this kind of efficient movement of samples and supplies is something that takes time and experience – so why not put all of that knowledge to work for you?

Most likely, you’ll never reach courier levels of efficiency with an in-house solution – and even if you did, it would take years to get there. There’s simply no reason to spend so much time pursuing a level of performance that an outside agency can already offer.

Outsourcing Benefit #3 – Avoid Vehicle Maintenance

All vehicles need to be maintained, and the maintenance needs can add up quickly for a fleet that racks up a lot of miles each month. Yet again, this is a task that your organization is not likely prepared to handle, adding another layer of complexity to the idea of having an in-house fleet.

From the basics like oil changes and tire checks to more advanced repairs, this is a need that will persist as long as you have cars on the road. Professional courier services have their maintenance processes dialed in to save money and keep their vehicles moving.

The Right Partner

There’s little doubt that outsourcing your courier work is going to save your organization money in both the short- and long-term. At the same time, you’ll get better performance and take a potential headache off of your to-do list. The only thing left to do is pick the right partner – and that partner is Path-Tec. With the quality service you demand, and the technology needed to stay at the top of the industry, Path-Tec is an easy choice. Contact us today to learn more about our courier services.

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The Benefits of Outsourcing Courier Services

In the medical world, the transportation of specimens and supplies is an ongoing requirement. Whether it is a sample that needs to be tested same-day, or the delivery of vital supplies, getting items from one place to another in a timely manner makes it possible to serve patients properly.

Rather than managing this need in-house, it’s wise to turn the job over to a professional courier service. Globally, courier services did more than $300 billion in business in 2019, and that number appears poised to grow. Let’s take a look at a few of the key benefits of outsourcing courier services.

A Courier Grows with You

At first, your transportation needs may be modest, and you might be able to handle the work in-house without much of a disruption. As your practice grows, however, those deliveries to the lab may become rather intrusive, and they could have a negative impact on other parts of your operation. With a professional courier on your side, it will be easy to adapt to growing demand. A courier with a large fleet will easily be able to handle the additional work and you and your staff can remain focused on serving patients.

Finding the Best Path

There is a science to transporting anything from one place to another in an efficient manner. Medical courier services use route planning software to make sure they aren’t wasting time – and money – by adding unnecessary miles to each journey.  This isn’t something you’ll be able to utilize if you handle deliveries in-house, but it will be put to use for your benefit when you contract with a lab courier.

Trust the Experts

Every field has its own experts who know how to handle the various challenges that are presented in that arena. Healthcare professionals are great at what they have been trained to do – but transportation logistics is not part of that training. Trusting an experienced courier service to manage the movement of samples and supplies will improve performance and minimize the hassles and headaches incurred along the way.

Never Satisfied

Developing an ongoing relationship with a medical courier service is beneficial because the courier can provide continually improving performance as time moves along. Patterns will develop in the way samples and supplies need to be delivered, and the courier can use that information to adjust. Those adjustments will not only provide financial savings but can also shorten turnaround times. The commitment to consistent improvement is one of many reasons that a courier service is sure to outperform an in-house alternative.

Remove a Management Task

Even if you were able to establish an in-house option for transporting things like specimens and supplies, there would still be the matter of overseeing that operation to deal with. What if something goes wrong, takes longer than it should, or is lost along the way? Rather than directly managing those issues yourself, you can enjoy the ease of relying on a third party when you hire a lab courier service to do the work. Working in healthcare is hard enough as it is, so outsource delivery needs and take one item off of your crowded plate.

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Top Medical Courier Trends in 2020

Couriers are not often thought of as a vital component of the medical field. The services couriers provide are crucial in delivering time-sensitive laboratory specimens, pharmaceuticals, paperwork, and supplies to reference laboratories, hospitals, pharmacies, and other medical facilities. Courier services are no longer just a random car or van coming to pick up and deliver a specimen. These services have evolved and become more focused on training and technology over the past few years, with the goal of improving service levels. There are a few new and exciting trends developing within the courier industry that will create even more efficiency and effectiveness in 2020.

Medical Courier Management Software

Technology is the most significant change in the courier industry, as it is in most businesses. GPS tracking is one of the critical and evolving trends within the industry. Medical facilities can track, in real time, exactly where their specimens are and when they will arrive. GPS tracking allows the courier to take the most efficient route to the destination, improving delivery time and decreasing fuel costs. Utilizing these types of tools help reduce costs, eliminate missing specimens, track deliverability success, and provide peace of mind for laboratories, but more importantly, for patients. Courier management systems are an exciting and efficient way for labs to manage and maintain control of multiple functions pertaining to specimen delivery process, and the use of mobile devices in the fleet have created even more opportunities for leveraging courier technology.

Path-Tec’s SpectraLogix system allows for courier scheduling, specimen tracking, route optimization, communication features, mobile convenience, and report generation. This technology assists labs in improving overall client satisfaction, reducing costs associated with transporting specimens, and creating greater overall operating efficiency.

Medical Drone Technology

Drone technology is another area evolving within the courier industry. Although drones have not yet been widely used within the medical courier realm, they are becoming more common within the package and food delivery industry. It is uncertain if drones would be a viable delivery option for patient sensitive information, but there are certainly other practical areas in which they may be utilized. Some possibilities for drone technology within the health care field include delivery of medical supplies, food, or water to remote or storm ravaged areas, delivery of supplies to Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) out in the field, or taking an automated external defibrillator (AED) to a heart attack victim. In instances such as a virus breakout, drone could be utilized to retrieve patient specimens without having to risk additional personnel to the infected regions.

Increased Medical Courier Training

Training of medical couriers is more in depth than one might suspect. The individuals transporting specimens have HIPPA, specimen handling and integrity, exposure control, spill and leak protocol, compliance, and DOT training. Keeping couriers up to date on the latest processes and procedures improves services and efficiency for both the medical facilities, as well as the courier service. Lack of training on how to properly transport specimens can be extremely detrimental to the integrity of a specimen, and medical courier and logistics companies have added a new focus in this area of healthcare logistics.

RFID Temperature Tracking

Oftentimes, when a courier service transfers a specimen to a laboratory, keeping the temperature within the appropriate range for optimal testing may be a concern. This does not have to be the case any longer. There are now controls available that have the ability to track the temperature range of the specimen being transferred throughout the courier route, from the time it leaves the customer site to arrival at the lab in which it will be tested. An RFID tag is attached to the specimen, at which time, a temperature range may be programmed into the tag. Should the specimen go above or below the set range, the specimen will be flagged. This allows for technicians to determine immediately, upon arrival, the specimen integrity, reducing time that may be wasted by analyzing specimens that are no longer fit for testing. While this is often time used for specimens being shipped through carriers, it is also an added tool that couriers can use to increase specimen integrity and quality control. This same technology can be used to streamline inventory management using RFID lot labels on specimen collection kits and and marketing materials.

Laboratories utilizing courier services can only benefit from taking advantage of the training and technology trends emerging and evolving within the industry. Specialized training, GPS, drones, and software management systems will assist labs in creating more efficient operations, increase client relations and satisfaction, and decrease costs.