AmeirPath’s team of more than 450 highly-trained, board-certified pathologists and PhD-level scientists provide medical diagnostic services in outpatient laboratories owned, operated and managed by AmeriPath, as well as in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers.
While our expert board-certified pathologists do not treat patients directly, they assist attending physicians by providing consultation regarding laboratory test results, effective treatment plans and disease management information. This allows your physicians to provide you expedited and optimal treatment.
What is Pathology?
Pathology is the study of disease.
Anatomic pathology involves evaluating tissues (surgical pathology) and cells (cytopathology) through variable magnifications using a microscope.
In surgical pathology, the goal of such microscopic evaluations is to make a definitive diagnosis of a patient’s disease. Virtually all tissues removed from patients during surgery are examined under the microscope by pathologists in order to determine whether or not a disease is present. Examples of surgical pathology specimens seen by pathologists include breast, prostate, skin, cervical, colon, and bone marrow biopsies. As a result, pathologists play an indispensable role in determining whether a patient’s illness is benign, inflammatory or cancerous.
The surgical patient’s subsequent treatment almost always depends on the surgical pathologist’s diagnosis. For this reason, doctors often refer to pathologists as the “physician’s physician,” a compliment that acknowledges the fact that the pathologist’s diagnosis represents a critical factor in determining a patient’s future care.
Cytopathology involves the evaluation of cells under microscope magnification. Pathologists examine cells obtained from: body fluids; solid tissues aspirated through needles; and body tissue scrapings.
The most widely known cytopathology examination is the Pap smear. A Pap smear entails scraping cells taken from the cervix, which are then spread on a slide, stained with a dye to color the cells, and examined by a pathologist using a microscope. Pap smears are considered screening tests, which provide another physician with information that suggests whether or not a potentially dangerous condition is present. If an abnormality is detected, the pathologist may recommend additional diagnostic procedures (such as biopsy of the affected tissue). Other cytopathology examinations may, in and of themselves, be diagnostic of a specific disease condition.
AmeriPath and Your Physician
Doctors often refer to pathologists (medical doctors who specialize in the science of pathology, the study of disease) as the “physician’s physician.” That’s because a pathologist’s diagnosis represents a critical factor in determining a patient’s future care.
The AmeriPath Difference
AmeriPath has an integrated team of pathologists, scientists, laboratory technicians and business people bound together by a common vision: providing the industry’s highest quality sub-specialized pathology service. As the nations’ leader in pathology services, we provide our clinician partners with the diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic information they need to provide you optimal patient care. Below are just some of the reasons AmeriPath is unrivaled across the U.S.:
- Our board-certified pathologists, many with fellowship training and/or subspecialty expertise, enable a clearer diagnosis of specific diseases
- Pathologists are easily accessible for consultations and proactively call on clinically significant cases
- Consultations are available with national experts for challenging or unique cases
- We provide easy access to comprehensive testing that enables your physician to effectively manage treatment decisions for you
We recognize that every specimen has a story and is connected to a face, name and a history. We take pride in ensuring our pathologists provide you the most accurate and definitive diagnosis of your disease, so your doctor can make the best treatment decisions for you and your health.
Your Diagnosis
Although AmeriPath’s expert board-certified pathologists do not treat you directly, they provide your physician consultation regarding laboratory test results, effective treatment plans and disease management information, allowing them to provide you optimal care.
As part of our service, we strive to provide your physician and you resources to find more information about common diagnoses. Patient education brochures, answering common questions concerning specific diseases and tests, along with patient diagnostic fact sheets, which explain specific disease conditions and treatment options, are available for your reference.
About Your Disease
AmeriPath provides patient education information on common diseases and conditions that are diagnosed by a pathologist. This information provides a general overview of each condition as well as additional resources as to where you can find information pertaining to your condition.
Support Groups
General Resource Support
GI Resource Support
Hematology/Oncology Resource Support
Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation, Inc.: aamds.org
Association of Cancer Online Resources (ACOR): acor.org
Cancer Care, Inc.: cancercare.org
Urology Resource Support
US TOO! International: ustoo.org