Life & Work with Barbara James of United States

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barbara James.

Hi Barbara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started as a medic in the Air Force. As there wasn’t an equivalent to this job in the civilian world without going back to school, I decided to become a lab tech. I worked in a physician office lab as the hours were more agreeable to a single mom. After about 10 yrs started installing instruments and training on them around the U.S. I also learned the IT side of the lab training and customizing laboratory software. While working at a Native American hospital in Arizona, I was offered the opportunity to consult for a large community healthcare in Southern Arizona that had 5 remove locations. I then decided to start my own business so I could consult fulltime. I specialize in physician office laboratories as I enjoy the relationship with the providers and office staff. I know consult for labs in 3 states.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I got out of the military, even though I performed duties equivalent to a RN, I found that I would have to go to school to be registered to do this. I had recently divorced, and had a 2 y/o son. So working on a 4-year degree would be too hard. After 10 yrs, discovered that a 2 yr degree wasn’t enough to advance more. So I went back to school in my 40’s to get my bachelors in health science. I then thought to become a Lab manager which required a Masters in Healthcare Administration. However, once I became a lab manager, I discovered that I was under the guidelines of people who didn’t see how a lab should be ran the same way as I did. I discovered that the physician office laboratories would allow me to manage labs in a more personal manner as they have a better understanding of patient care as they know their patients. I was very busy during COVID, but when that ended, I lost more than half my business. I’m having to think outside the box on how to access future business and market.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I started in the lab field as a bench tech. This is someone who actually performs the testing. My first job was in a hospital and the hours were too hard as a single mom. So I decided to work in a small lab in a doctors office where the hours were regular, weekends and holidays off. The pay was lower than a hospital so I was looking at other areas of the lab and decided to work in field service repairing lab instrumentation. I then moved to Rhode Island and serviced the East Coast. I then relocated back to Arizona after 6 years. I was laid off and went back to the hospital lab in Yuma, Arizona. I then decided to work for a company running a small lab in a physician office. This led me to become a manager of labs around the U.S. and traveled quite a bit for this. After around 8 yrs, I decided to go back to the hospital for a Native American community. I managed their computer lab system and then became their Lab Manager. That’s where a Community Healthcare facility reached out to me about managing their remote facilities. I was listed on a national companies website as a consultant and this led to other opportunities around the U.S.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I would like to see more physicians open their own lab to perform testing for their patients. The reference lab industry has grown quite a bit, and they are aggressively trying to monopolize on the lab testing industry. However, they cannot perform the kind of personal service a patients medical provider can. They trust the staff there and would prefer to get their blood drawn by someone who knows them. It also provides faster turn-around-time and less chance of a specimen being compromised requiring another blood draw. Patient care should be the primary focus and I don’t believe that distand reference labs can provide this. Also, it would be a one stop visit for elderly patients who have challenges with travel to various medical visits.

Unfortunately, a lof o physician labs close due to mismanagement or cost. A laboratory consultant who knows how to deal with all aspects of running a lab would be instrumental here as long as they can get involved with the lab when it starts up. I have joined with an agency who’s goal is to provide assistance and access to services for physician office and small reference laboratories. More physician office labs (POLs) are opening and I’m hoping we can keep them open.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lab-consultant.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581839625497
• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/barbara-j-james-06329124