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Colin Mansfield's pathology service has been in existence for more
than 25 years since its small beginning as a one-man practice.
The foundation of that early practice was personal service to
doctors and their patients; this principle remains the corner
stone.Since those early days, Colin Mansfield has been joined by other pathologists who are similarly motivated. Dr. Bill Hensley, now Professor of Clinical Biochemistry at Sydney University and head of the Fairfax Institute of Pathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, has been associated with the practice for many years. The practice merged with that of Dr. Michael Frack some 10 years ago; Michael specialises in histopathology and cytology and is a member of the International Academy of Cytology. At about the same time, Dr. Alan Matthews joined us coming from the Mater Hospital; he is trained generally but has special training in gynaecological pathology. The latest member to join is Dr. Armand Kohan; he was head of the Rumanian Red Cross and is a member of the International Society of Haematology.
Working alongside the pathologists is a team of medical scientists who have university degrees or technical diplomas; as well there is non-academic staff.
All staff are united and work together with a common dedication to bring science to the sick. We see our laboratory results, in conjunction with the doctors' clinical judgements, leading to a diagnosis which in turn leads to appropriate treatment and patient cure or at least patient care and comfort. Every person working in this laboratory sees his or her place in this context of patient care in association with the referring doctor.
To us, the patient is an individual in whom we are interested to attempt a diagnosis, especially when results are abnormal. To be used in this way our results must be accurate; every scientist producing results knows this well and uses quality control procedures continually. We ask the referring doctor for collaboration in this diagnostic process by way of some words of history. Note well that a pathologist reads and signs every report, and may add a comment as appropriate.
To further help in this process, we give a statistical analysis of results. In this way, each patient is seen relative to all other patients and disease vectors are measured (for example, liver cell damage and cholestasis as separate parts of total liver dysfunction).
In other significant ways, we work in collaboration with the referring doctor. to those doctors who prefer to collect pathology specimens from their patients, as a service to them, we are happy to provide the necessary medical supplies and to pick up specimens by courier. In districts where we maintain a collecting centre, the collector will happily call on a patient who is sick at home or in a nursing home.
In the matter of charging the patient for the pathology service we take our lead from the referring doctor, whether the patient is to be direct billed through Medicare or sent an account.
Doctors are invited to call in or telephone at any time to see the laboratory and meet the pathologists and staff.
In all ways, we aim to give both doctor and patient a personal and distinctive service which we hope they both perceive to be of value.