X-CELL LABORATORIES OF WESTERN NEW YORK, INC.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – The amount of laboratory results immediately available to participating physicians through HEALTHeLINK, Western New York’s clinical information exchange, continues to increase as X-Cell Laboratories of Western New York, Inc. (“X-Cell”) recently signed on as a data source. Located at 20 Northpointe Parkway – Suite 100 in Amherst, X-Cell specializes in anatomic pathology laboratory services.

“Having instant access to a patient’s recent lab results allows the treating physician to provide more informed care while at the same time avoid duplicating tests that may have already been performed,” said Daniel Porreca, HEALTHeLINK’s executive director. “We are excited to welcome X-Cell as HEALTHeLINK’s newest data source.”

X-Cell is the largest private pathology lab in the area with 14 Board Certified pathologists and 5 certified cytotechnologists who process over 50,000 pap smears and 15,000 patient biopsies each year. X-Cell has been an innovator in pathology services in WNY having been the first lab to offer both ThinPrep® and SurePath® liquid based pap smears, and was the first and is still the only lab in WNY to provide computer assisted primary screening on both types of pap smears.

“HEALTHeLINK is a valuable resource for improving patient treatment and also reducing health care costs in our region,” said David Scamurra, MD, pathologist at X-Cell Laboratories and vice chair of HEALTHeLINK’s Board of Directors. “By joining HEALTHeLINK, X-Cell is able to submit results securely and directly to treating physicians, saving them time in tracking down results and conducting follow-up phone calls. In turn, this time can be spent on patient care and treatment.”

Individual patient laboratory reports as well as all other patient health information may only be accessed through HEALTHeLINK by physicians and approved medical staffs who are involved in the patient’s care if the patient signs a consent form. Nearly 250,000 Western New Yorkers have already given their health care providers better access to the information they need by signing consent forms. Patient consent forms are available at X-Cell, physician offices across Western New York and HEALTHeLINK’s website, www.wnyhealthelink.com.

About HEALTHeLINK: The not-for-profit organization was established through funding from BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, The Catholic Health System, Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Independent Health Association, Kaleida Health, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Univera Healthcare and the Health Care Efficiency and Affordability Law for New Yorkers Capital Grant Program (HEAL NY) from New York State. HEALTHeLINK also received one of the country’s largest awards as part of the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ Beacon Community Cooperative Agreement Program.

HEALTHeLINK stakeholders include a broad representation of healthcare professionals and organizations throughout the eight-county Western New York region such as the State University of New York at Buffalo, P2 Collaborative, Chautauqua County Health Network, the WNY Rural Area Health Education Center and local county public health departments. For more information on HEALTHeLINK, visit www.wnyhealthelink.com.

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