Advantages of the Office-Based Lab Setting
The data speaks volumes: ClearSight Health’s data shows that in the state of New York alone, the majority of the highest-volume facilities performing Liver Tumor Embolization are now Advantages of the Office-Based Lab Setting (OBL). This significant transition is indicative of a nationwide shift in healthcare delivery trends. OBLs represented 25% of total liver embolization procedures in Q2 2022 vs 30% in Q3 2023, resulting in year over year growth of more than 20% in the Office-Based Lab space.
Performing procedures in OBLs allows for increased efficiency and patient convenience, often leading to better outcomes. The capacity to design a lab that accommodates various models, such as the versatile hybrid model capable of alternating between Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) features and OBL functions, offers unprecedented adaptability and efficiency. Multi-specialty OBLs further enhance this capability, broadening the range of procedures that can be performed within one facility.
A Delicate Balance: Referrals and Relationships
Despite the rise of Office-Based Labs, the hospital environment maintains its essential role within the Interventional Oncology (IO) space. ClearSight Health’s data reveals that among physicians who primarily perform IO procedures in OBLs, 31% of their overall procedures are still carried out in a hospital setting. Referrals remain the lifeblood of any medical practice, and as physicians transition into the OBL setting, the maintenance of solid relationships with the hospital system is key.
Facing the Future
The rise of OBLs in Interventional Oncology is a testament to the adaptive, patient-centric direction healthcare continues to take. As IO procedures grow in the outpatient setting it becomes crucial for medical device reps and marketing teams to understand these trends deeply and align their strategies accordingly.
