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
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...
14 years of PLUGS: Lessons, Relationships, and Progress
In this holiday edition of the PLUGS podcast, Drs. Jane Dickerson, Mike Astion andGeoff Baird reflect on the history and learnings from PLUGS, as well as from thestewardship practices at the University of Washington, Seattle Childrens a...
Huge Test Panels in the Search for Personal Purity
In this episode of the PLUGS podcast, Drs. Mike Astion and Geoff Bairddiscuss the massive testing panels associated with the belief that the environment–through its many metals, biotoxins, microbes, and allergens—is a significant source...
Incompetence Beepers, Lampshade Hats, Kindergarten Probability Classes, Happy False Positives, and Labs Driving Healthcare Off the Fiscal Cliff
In this episode of the PLUGS podcast, Drs. Mike Astion and Geoff Bairddiscuss some foundational principles in lab stewardship and management. Give a listen.05:30 Dunning-Kruger effect: dealing with incompetence through feedback from<...