PLUGS Podcast
The PLUGS Podcast aims to empower healthcare providers, clinical laboratories, insurance plans, and patients by enhancing lab stewardship. Laboratory stewardship has five key improvement goals: 1) enhanced access to testing, 2) appropriate and accurate test ordering, 3) timely retrieval of test results, 4) correct result interpretation, and 5) financial alignment between patients, labs and payers. Financial alignment means that patients are protected from financial toxicity, labs are paid fairly, and insurance companies do not pay for wasteful test practices.
Through insightful discussions, expert guidance, and valuable resources, the PLUGS Podcast is dedicated to supporting all stakeholders in navigating the complexities of clinical lab stewardship, ultimately promoting both better patient outcomes and financial security.
PLUGS Podcast
Latest Episodes
Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Tests: Navigating the Benefit, Harm, Payment, and Uncertainty
Drs. Geoff Baird and Mike Astion discuss the current promises and pitfalls of MCED testing in the USA including issues of cancer detection, overdiagnosis, costs, and insurance payments. Learning Objectives: ...
PLUGS Live at the Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM)
Summary.This episode of the PLUGS podcast was recorded live at ADLM 2026. PLUGSmembers came to the PLUGS tradeshow booth to post questions on our questionboard and participate in live Q&A. The answers were provided by University...
AI in Lab Medicine and Lab Stewardship: Timesaver, Gamechanger, Panic-maker
Summary.In this episode of the PLUGS podcast, Mike Astion interviews Dr. Geoff Baird about AI in the Lab. Over the last year, Geoff and a few other University of Washington faculty members have been intensely studying and implementing AI in...
Conflict Management and Apology in Laboratory Stewardship
In this 11th edition of the PLUGS podcast, Drs. Jane Dickerson, Mike Astion and Geoff Baird work through cases of conflict management and apology related to laboratory stewardship. The cases come from PLUGS members and add depth to our recent P...
Laboratory Genetic Counselors to the Rescue
In this 10th edition of the PLUGS podcast Dr. Mike Astion interviews Paige Haas and Darci Sternen, who are Laboratory Genetic Counselors in the Dept of Laboratories at Seattle Childrens Hospital. Paige and Darci are active in our clinical labor...