The development of Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing has raised the bar for self-help methods. Now more than ever, people are taking charge of their health. Whether it’s actively seeking care without referrals or participating in wellness promotion initiatives, the healthcare landscape today is drastically different from what it was 20 years ago. Urgent care is in a good position to pioneer new trends in healthcare delivery because of its versatility.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic increased interest in self-care alternatives including telemedicine and self-diagnosis. This may have been due to a high anxiety level around needless visits or a lack of access to doctors for non-emergency care. As consumers value readily available, reasonably priced healthcare options, these patterns won’t fade away even when the pandemic is ended. Hence, the Direct to Consumer (DTC) testing strategy has grown in popularity over the past few years.
Direct-to-Consumer Laboratory Testing Changing Healthcare Delivery System Across Globe
People now have more control over their personal health information because of a paradigm shift brought about in recent years by consumers’ demand for greater involvement in healthcare decisions and the rules supporting it.
Consumers can request laboratory tests directly from a laboratory through direct access testing (DAT), also known as direct-to-consumer laboratory testing, without necessarily consulting a healthcare provider.
The public was initially introduced to the concept of actively participating in their healthcare with the introduction of over-the-counter (OTC) urine glucose and ketone testing in the 1950s. Since its foundation in the 1950s, DAT has grown quickly, illustrating how healthcare has evolved from being physician-focused to becoming consumer-focused.
Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing Becomes the Pioneer of Individual Healthcare
Due to advancements in lab technology and the maturity of evidence-based medicine, labs have grown to be an essential part of the healthcare ecosystem. The results of laboratory tests are used to inform 70% of medical decisions made today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In order to boost efficiency, more direct-to-consumer options must be offered. Making critical medical decisions requires prompt responses, therefore it’s imperative to eliminate any extra steps and potential delays in the diagnosing process.
- Direct to Consumer Laboratory testing is also reasonably priced. According to a recent prediction, by implementing enhanced lab operations and an electronic gateway, healthcare companies will save $122 billion in administrative expenditures in 2020.
- The same investigation discovered that automating pointless administrative tasks may result in an additional $16 billion in savings. Yet, Direct to Consumer lab testing faces some formidable obstacles.
- These assertions are further supported by the Extrapolate research on Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing, which forecasts growth at a 26.0% CAGR to reach a value of USD 10.0 billion by 2030.
A significant consideration for businesses is where to sell DTC lab tests. For instance, not all US states allow direct consumer access to tests without a doctor’s approval. In the states that do allow DAT, there are differences in the kinds of testing that need prior clinician assessment and approval. In order to service clients across the nation, businesses will need to cooperate with a clinical network to ensure that all lab tests are assessed and, where necessary, issued in compliance.
Direct-to-Consumer Laboratory Testing Driving Healthcare Advancements and Owning Control of Individual Healthcare
The expansion of DTC testing cannot be overstated. Millions of dollars in annual industry growth are not a coincidence. The rise in demand can be linked to customers’ increasing awareness of DTC testing’s benefits.
A DTC test may be desired for a number of reasons, but cost and convenience are unquestionably the two main ones.
Convenience
When a customer needs a lab test but doesn’t use the Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing model, scheduling an appointment with a primary care physician is frequently the first step. Following the appointment, they get a recommendation for the test, and they give a sample for examination either at the clinic or at another lab facility.
The duration of this process could be days or even weeks. Customers can drop off a sample at any time that suits them because most DTC collection locations don’t require appointments.
Lower Cost
It’s interesting that Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing is typically not covered by insurance. On the surface, one could infer that they are more expensive as a result. Yet that is not the case. Typically, the price of a DTC test is less expensive than the copay for a primary care visit and related lab expenditures.
Customers are typically given the freedom to choose whatever DTC testing company they want to engage with rather than being forced to do so by their insurance company. They can use this to choose the best offer and the most convenient option.
Confidentiality
During some tests, clients might want to remain silent when speaking with their primary care physician. Drug and STI testing can be extremely delicate and distressing for many clients. Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing provides significantly more anonymity because the patient receives their results directly.
Empowerment
As stated indicated, more and more people are taking control of their own health. DTC testing can teach them a lot about their health. Customer empowerment and motivation to maintain health monitoring increase when they have test results in hand.
Non-Health Testing
DTC testing is sometimes utilized for exams that have nothing to do with medicine. Since more people want to learn about their ancestry, the demand for at-home DNA test kits has increased recently. Paternity questions in other cases require a private response. Consumer Direct Laboratory Although testing gives customers the option to have a DNA test, most individuals wouldn’t schedule one with their doctor.
DTC Becomes Potential Revenue Generator For Small Clinics
As already said, firms providing urgent care are perfectly situated to benefit from the rise in Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing. DTC testing can be made into a lucrative, low-overhead revenue stream for the majority of clinics since this is true for a variety of reasons.
Almost 14,000 urgent care facilities can be found throughout the United States. The two biggest DTC businesses, Quest and LabCorp, together, have fewer fictitious sample collection locations than that. Given that urgent care facility is spread out throughout practically every community, for many consumers, delivering a test sample there is also more practical.
Moreover, urgent care centers may collect a far wider variety of samples than other locations because they are already equipped to do so for other industries.
Consumer Direct Laboratory Testing collecting is a great way to grow revenue from a commercial standpoint. Nurses and medical assistants who are already on the premises can take patient samples throughout the day. Because a doctor is not required to be present, lab collections won’t disrupt a clinic’s routine operations. They also don’t interfere with the doctor’s ability to see patients every hour. DTC test collection is an excellent “cash business” if an urgent care facility has enough support staff on site.
In the end, Direct to Consumer Laboratory Testing will grow more and more prevalent as consumers look for new ways to manage their health in the wake of COVID-19. Urgent care has a great chance to benefit from this trend. By serving as collecting sites for lab testing, clinics can make extra money without interfering with their regular operations.