Starling Laboratory Expansion Feasibility Study Performed
A few months back, Starling engaged a leading laboratory consultant to study the operational and financial aspects of expanding the current Grove Hill laboratory located at One Lake Street in New Britain to meet the lab needs of all of Starling Physicians. The comprehensive study was performed to determine if the “in-house” lab could provide high quality, responsive, and cost effective laboratory services beyond its current capacity to the benefit of all Starling physicians. At this time, Grove Hill patient phlebotomy services and testing are performed at GH sites ,while CMG formerly had a management agreement with CLP for testing prior to CLP being sold to Quest in March of last year.
Today, over 731,000 test are ordered by Starling physicians a year and only 15% of that is done “in house” with 85% of testing going to Quest and other outside labs.
The consultant established the following criteria to determine what tests that go outside of Starling could be done in-house:
- Testing required for high quality patient care
- Routine testing resulted in < 24 hours
- STAT testing
- High volume testing performed on high throughput, automated testing platforms
- Testing performed in cost effective manner
The consultant reviewed all aspects of current operations including facility space, equipment, staffing, management, courier, technology, specimen collection sites, test volumes, turnaround times, and service levels.
The conclusion of the report is that with expanded space and capital, the Starling lab has tremendous potential to increase the profitability from current levels for all of Starling while maintaining and improving service levels.
The Starling Board will be reviewing the capital investment needs including expanded space at One Lake Street into the old billing office area. The ability of Starling to produce a highly profitable and efficient lab should prove to be another example of being even better together.
I will keep you posted as this develops.