Adding Value to Public Hospital Pathology: Identifying Key Attributes that Requestors Associate with Quality

Pathology services are undergoing a period of dynamic change in the Australian health market. As costs continue to be rationalised there has been an increasing requirement to quantitate and improve the clinical utility and value of pathology in healthcare delivery. Through literature review we propose a model to assess how this service is valued by clinicians and the dimensions that influence the perception of quality. A number of concepts of service delivery are examined and their applicability to pathology service discussed. From these 14 dimensions are proposed as having substantial influence on the perception of the quality of pathology services by clinicians, which are classified into pre-existing contributors, service quality dimensions and personal perception.