Media Coverage

More people are high on the job, and it’s putting the public’s health and safety on the line.[CR-LF][CR-LF]One in three industries experienced double-digit percentage increases in the share of workers testing positive for a range of drugs between 2015 and 2018, according to a new analysis of more than 14 million urine drug tests results from Quest Diagnostics, a company that provides laboratory tests.

One third of U.S. industry sectors experienced year-over-year double-digit increases in workforce drug positivity between 2015 and 2018, according to a new analysis of industry-specific data by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services. The findings will be presented at the Substance Abuse Program Administrators Association (SAPAA) conference in Philadelphia, PA on September 18, 2019.

Over the past 2 years, IBM’s Watson for Oncology cognitive computing system, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to generate treatment recommendations, has come under fire for allegedly not delivering on expectations to provide state-of-the-art personalized treatment for patients with cancer and for producing advice that is “unsafe and incorrect.”1,2 Since its inception in 2012, Watson for Oncology has undergone intensive medical training by oncologists at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) in New York to learn key data associated with a patient’s cancer, such as results from blood tests; pathology and imaging reports detailing the type, size, and location of the tumor; and the presence of genetic mutations. The program then combs through huge amounts of medical literature to provide evidence-based treatment recommendations for that specific patient. To date, Watson has been trained to support treatment decisions in lung, breast, colorectal, bladder, cervical, endometrial, esophageal, stomach, ovarian, prostate, and thyroid cancers, and training will begin soon in several types of lymphomas.[CR-LF]In addition to Watson for Oncology, IBM has launched several other oncology-related offerings aimed at accelerating personalized patient care. They include Watson for Genomics, Watson Genomics from Quest Diagnostics (a Watson-powered genomic-sequencing service), and IBM Watson for Clinical Trial Matching, which uses natural language processing to increase the efficiency and accuracy of the clinical trial matching process.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced today that Manuel O. Méndez has been named Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer effective October 7, 2019. [CR-LF][CR-LF]"Manuel is a seasoned and dynamic leader with more than 25 years of experience in diagnostics and life sciences," said Jim Davis, Executive Vice President, General Diagnostics. "His deep understanding of health systems and other customer segments will enable us to build on Quest's strong Commercial foundation."

Michele Ladouceur wanted to convince her friends that they could save money on routine lab tests by having them done at an independent laboratory. So she snapped photos of a poster in the lobby of the University Suburban Health Center in South Euclid that proved her point. The poster compares prices for routine medical tests at University Suburban, a nonprofit that runs an independent clinical laboratory and diagnostic imaging center, with those charged at area hospitals. A basic metabolic panel that averages $100 at some hospitals is $29 at University Suburban. An ankle X-ray that costs hundreds of dollars at local hospitals is $86 at University Suburban.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Independent labs range from large, national independent labs, such as LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, to small, local independents.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Quest, based in Secaucus, New Jersey, is one of the largest diagnostic services company in the country, with 2,200 locations nationwide, including five in the Cleveland metro area.

Prescription data alone underestimated how many patients combined opioids and benzodiazepines, an analysis of Quest Diagnostics drug test data indicated.[CR-LF]Among a selected sample of patients whose drug test indicated concurrent benzodiazepine and opioid use, 64% had at least one benzodiazepine or opioid that was not prescribed, according to Quest researcher Leland McClure, PhD, and colleagues in a poster presentation at the 2018 PAINWeek conference.

Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration announced Thursday that health care premiums for some school and local government employees will fall more than two percent next year.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Before the announcement, the School Employees’ Health Benefits Commission and the State Health Benefits Commission — boards comprised of management and labor members — approved health care and prescription premium rates for 2020.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Jennifer Sciortino, a spokeswoman for the Treasury Department, said prescription drug and health benefit administrators are receiving commissions rather than a flat fee for negotiating prices with out-of-network providers. The state was able to remove thousands of people from its rolls after a dependent eligibility audit, and plans to move Quest Diagnostics in network should lower bills for lab work.

Population aging will lead to a rise in the prevalence of chronic health conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, and dementia (1). The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD), the primary cause of dementia, is expected to reach 115.4 million worldwide by 2050 (2). Both AD and undiagnosed anemia are common conditions in nursing homes, with prevalences of around 45% (3). In fact, anemia affects 33% of the world's population, and about half the cases are due to iron deficiency (4). [CR-LF][CR-LF]Red cell distribution width, anemia, and other iron status measures[CR-LF]All laboratory tests selected for this study were done at Quest Diagnostics, Chantilly, VA, following a fasting blood draw, after which participants were offered breakfast.

Optimal health care requires humanism—not just scientific excellence, but also compassion and collaboration. This truth is understood intuitively by patients, their family members, and health care professionals. In 2017, in recognition of the importance of collectively strengthening humanism more broadly across the health care ecosystem, we created the Gold Corporate Council. Five corporations stepped forward to become founding members: BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), Henry Schein, Inc., IBM Watson Health, Medtronic, and Quest Diagnostics.

Forbes released its annual list of the country's most innovative leaders, comprising 100 founders and CEOs known for encouraging creative and highly successful innovation at their organizations.[CR-LF][CR-LF]To compile the list, leaders from top U.S. companies were ranked based on their media reputation for innovation, social connections and capital related to innovation, track record of market value creation and investor expectations of future growth and innovation. Exemplifying these qualities are Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Tesla's Elon Musk, who tied for first place.[CR-LF][CR-LF]83. Stephen Rusckowski, Quest Diagnostics

By now, the venture world is wary of blood testing startups offering health data from just a few drops of blood. However, Baze, a Swiss-based personal nutrition startup providing blood tests you can do in the convenience of your own home, collects just a smidgen of your sanguine fluid through an MIT manufactured device, which, according to the company, is in accordance with FDA regulations.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The idea is to find out (via your blood sample) which vitamins you’re missing out on and are keeping you from living your best life. That seems to resonate with folks who don’t want to go into the doctor’s office and separately head to their nearest lab for testing.The price is also nice, compared to going to a Quest Diagnostics or LabCorp, which can vary depending on which vitamins you need to test for individually.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced that it is scheduled to speak at the Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference in New York. Stephen Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO will discuss the company's vision, goals and two-point strategy to accelerate growth and drive operational excellence. The presentation is scheduled for Monday, September 9, 2019 at 11:40 a.m. Eastern Time.

Clinical laboratories and health insurers also are collaborating on blockchain projects. A recent intelligence briefing from The Dark Report, the sister publication of Dark Daily, describes collaborations between multiple health insurers and Quest Diagnostics to improve their provider directories using blockchain. (See, “Four Insurers, Quest Developing Blockchain,” July 1, 2019.)

Cannabis has long been heralded for its calming properties. But lately it’s having quite the opposite effect on HR professionals, as they navigate the myriad state laws and court cases affecting the controversial substance to create drug-testing policies and procedures.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Possession or use of marijuana remains illegal under federal law. But state laws are changing at a dizzying speed, including some that now limit a company’s ability to fire an employee for failing a drug test. Courts have begun siding with workers who say their off-duty use of cannabis for medical reasons led to their unfair dismissal. Recent court cases have left employers facing discrimination charges for taking action against workers who flunk marijuana tests. Nevada in June limited rejecting job applicants for failing a test. Even cities are getting into the act, with the New York City Council voting in April to ban marijuana testing for job applicants (with exceptions for such jobs as public-safety workers).[CR-LF][CR-LF]Barry Sample, Ph.D., director of science and technology for the employer solutions division of Quest Diagnostics, says the rate of positive tests has increased 35 percent since 2010 in places where marijuana is illegal and has risen even faster in states where it’s legal—in those areas it jumped 71 percent during that period.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, announced that it is scheduled to speak at the Baird 2019 Global Healthcare Conference in New York. Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO and Jim Davis, Executive Vice President, General Diagnostics will discuss the company's vision, goals and two-point strategy to accelerate growth and drive operational excellence. The presentation is scheduled for Thursday, September 5, 2019 at 11:25 a.m. Eastern Time.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Strategy, SWOT and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company's structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings and corporate actions, providing a 360 view of the company.

Prevention of heart disease has centered on smoking cessation, controlling blood pressure, achieving an appropriate weight, regular exercise, control of blood sugar, and control of your cholesterol. Despite addressing and controlling these items, individuals still have heart attacks and strokes and vascular events. Researchers are now directing their attention to a dietary metabolite of red meat called trimethlamine N-oxide or TMAO.[CR-LF][CR-LF]There is even a blood test to measure TMAO levels developed by the Cleveland Clinic and available through Quest Labs. Do not get too excited about asking your physician to order it on your blood because it requires eliminating meat, poultry, and fish plus other food items for several days in advance of the test.

With the recent launch of an automated microbiology system in its Marlborough, Massachusetts laboratory, Quest Diagnostics is looking to streamline a department that has seen less impact from automation than many other parts of the lab.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Sourced from lab automation firm Copan Diagnostics, the system is anticipated to cut costs and turnaround time and help address challenges facing clinical microbiology labs, including staffing shortages and reimbursement cuts.

Laboratory services that identify genetic markers of cancer help predict future cancer, identify existing disease, and guide treatment decisions in oncology care. Despite this foundational role in cancer care, laboratory test services often face coverage and reimbursement pressures from health plans that struggle to evaluate the tests’ clinical and economic value. Both oncologists and payers face an avalanche of information on diagnostic tests, which confuses treatment, coverage, and reimbursement decisions. Despite this, physicians and genetic counselors are willing to evaluate the data à la carte in the context of each patient. Genetic testing has quickly become an accepted aspect of mainstream medicine.1

In the last year, a record number of states have amended or enacted laws which regulate marijuana testing, accommodations, and use. Among these states, at least two states have specifically banned pre-employment testing of marijuana. Some states have also enacted provisions which protect employees from being discriminated against for obtaining a medical marijuana license, require reasonable accommodations and provide privacy rights outside of the workplace. In total, 15 states currently have medical cannabis laws that provide some form of explicit employment protection for medical cannabis users. Needless to say, the rapid progression in marijuana legalization has left employers “Dazed and Confused.”[CR-LF][CR-LF]According to the annual Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index, positive marijuana results have increased nearly 24 percent since 2014 for safety-sensitive employees in the federal workplace, who are subject to federally mandated drug testing.

Achievers, an industry-leading employee engagement platform provider, today announced the moderator and panelists of its Chief Human Resource Officer (CHRO) and Executive Leadership session, "The New Digital Workforce and the Future of Employee Engagement," taking place at its 2019 annual user conference, Achievers Customer Experience (ACE). The 2019 CHRO and Executive Leadership session will be moderated by former executive editor of Fast Company and editor and managing director of The Flux Group, Robert Safian. On stage, the esteemed panelists joining Safian will be:[CR-LF][CR-LF]Arielle Meloul-Wechsler, Senior Vice President, People, Culture and Communications, Air Canada[CR-LF]Cecilia McKenney, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer, Quest Diagnostics[CR-LF]Michael Agrir, CEO and President, Medxcel[CR-LF]Vanessa Thurston, Interim Vice President & Head of Talent Management, Samsung Electronics America

As Americans marijuana usages continue to climb, workplaces are taking a more lenient approach to drug testing. The Rockefeller Institute of Government recently released a new study looking into marijuana usage, finding more and more Americans are toking up big-time in all 50 states, whether it’s illegal or legal. In states where weed legalization hasn’t been passed, marijuana usage has grown 33% since 2002.Workforce drug positivity reached a fourteen-year high in 2018, according to an analysis by Quest Diagnostics, which discovered nearly a 5% increase (4.4%) in urine drug tests since 2017. The study based its analysis of nearly 9 million workforce urine drug tests performed between January and December 2018.

Some employees are stressed to death at work — literally. But the right benefits can help save lives.[CR-LF][CR-LF]A report gathered by the American Heart Association, and a coalition of over 40 CEOs from large companies — called the AHA CEO Roundtable — illustrated how mental health impacts employees’ physical health, and their employer’s bottom line. The report, “Mental Health: A Workforce in Crisis,” found around 8,000 employees around the world die every year from medical conditions — like strokes and heart attacks — caused by high job demands.[CR-LF][CR-LF]“In order to have a healthy workforce, employers must look at health and wellness holistically – and that includes mental health,” says Steve Rusckowski, CEO of Quest Diagnostics.

Large employers may be excited about recent research which looked at National Health Interview Survey data and found a near-term decline in new cases of diabetes as well as a plateau in existing U.S. cases. While the news that new cases of diabetes may be declining does sound promising, benefit managers should resist the urge to break out the champagne.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Although, it’s understandable why they would want to celebrate. More than half of Americans under age 65 — roughly 158 million people — have health insurance through an employer, and chronic conditions like diabetes are major drivers in the year-over-year increases in employee health benefit costs.