Office-Based Labs (OBLs) & What You Can Do in Them

In this episode, Dr. Mike Watts joins Dr. Michael Barraza to discuss Office Based Labs (OBLs). We begin by explaining what an OBL is and how OBLs are different from Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC’s). Dr. Watts tells us about some of the advantages of working in an OBL, including reimbursement rates, patient access, and scheduling, and we talk about how the general patient experience is different.

Next, we give an overview of how to work with referring doctors at nearby hospitals and build relationships with departments outside of interventional radiology, such as oncology and urology. Dr. Watts shares the advantages of being a full-service IR group, and he tells us how he coordinates patient care between the OBL and hospitals when needed.

We also discuss how to expand an OBL practice to become a full-service IR group, how to make yourself valuable within an OBL, and how to participate in ongoing clinical studies. We end the episode with Dr. Watts telling us what is on the horizon for OBLs and what he would like to see in the future.