At its inaugural 2026 Summit on April 27 in New Orleans, the Panel of National Pathology Leaders (PNPL) convened pathology leaders, attorneys, and consultants to examine key challenges shaping clinical laboratory operations, including hospital contracting, artificial intelligence implementation, workforce shortages, and regulatory pressures. The event, co-hosted by McDonald Hopkins with support from HUB International, focused on practical strategies to strengthen pathology group performance within evolving healthcare systems.
Strengthening hospital relationships through data
The morning session centered on PNPL’s Hospital Negotiations Factbook, with discussion focused on how pathology groups can strengthen hospital relationships through ongoing data sharing and performance reporting. Dr. Raed Sulaiman of Physicians Laboratory and PNPL co-founder Robert Tessier emphasized that hospital contracting should be treated as a continuous process rather than a periodic negotiation event.
Dr. Sulaiman described a rotating time-study model—conducted one week every four weeks—to better capture Part A activity across the year. These data are reviewed regularly and shared with hospital leadership to support staffing and compensation discussions.
He also highlighted the importance of translating complex laboratory operations into concise, executive-level reporting, including infographic-style summaries of workload, turnaround times, and quality metrics. The intent is to ensure hospital administrators understand the operational scope and value provided by pathology groups.
Tessier added that pathology groups that consistently share metrics, committee participation data, and operational reports are better positioned to justify Fair Market Value compensation during negotiations.
Contract structure and strategic considerations
Discussion also covered key contract components including benchmarking, inflation adjustments, exclusivity provisions, autopsy services, pathologists’ assistants, and technical services arrangements. Speakers emphasized that pathology contracts function as integrated operational and financial frameworks that directly affect pathology group staffing, reporting requirements, and long-term sustainability.
AI adoption and workflow integration
Lisa-Jean Clifford of Gestalt Diagnostics and the Association for Pathology Informatics discussed artificial intelligence adoption in pathology, noting that AI is increasingly becoming embedded in laboratory workflows. She cautioned that the vendor landscape remains fragmented and requires careful evaluation.
Clifford stressed defining problems before selecting tools, validating algorithms within the pathology group environment, and assessing infrastructure requirements such as storage, cloud capacity, and cybersecurity. She also emphasized that AI implementation requires governance structures and ongoing monitoring, representing a long-term organizational transformation rather than a simple technology purchase.
Regulatory compliance and workforce pressures
A legal panel from McDonald Hopkins addressed rising regulatory scrutiny involving Stark Law compliance, Fair Market Value concerns, TC/PC arrangements, and digital pathology billing. Attorneys noted that enforcement actions often result from inadequate documentation or compliance systems rather than intentional misconduct, underscoring the importance of operational rigor within pathology groups.
Workforce strategy was addressed by Rich Cornell of Santé Consulting, who described a candidate-driven labor market requiring proactive recruitment, pipeline development, and engagement with trainees. Candidates increasingly prioritize flexibility, workplace culture, and career development opportunities. Recruitment analytics and retention planning were highlighted as key tools for pathology groups.
PNPL’s Pain Points Survey reinforced ongoing challenges across pathology groups, including staffing shortages, rising costs, and pressure to adopt new technologies. Across sessions, PNPL emphasized transparency, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making as central to strengthening pathology practice sustainability.
Note: This news summary was generated by AI based on a published press release, followed by a review from human editors.
