Leading a laboratory or medical practice requires skills not always taught in medical school or residency—and if you aspire to lead effectively, then your education must be more than scientific and medical skills. That’s why the College of American Pathologists (CAP) offers working pathologists the vital educational support they need to build financial, operational, and managerial skills for success.
Your Path to Leadership Starts With the CAP
CME is pivotal for your ongoing growth, and we offer a variety of resources that cater to various subspecialties and skillsets. However, if you’re looking to take the next step in your career, our laboratory management programs can help you grow into a leader, no matter what professional path you choose.
Essentials of Laboratory Management
Begin your journey to leadership here. Empowering you to bridge the gap from learning to leadership, Essentials of Laboratory Management helps you develop the critical management and operational skills you need for success—all from one source fit to your schedule, learning style, and career path:
- Access flexible online courses and bite-sized modules 24/7
- Customize your learning experience based on your existing knowledge and needs
- Choose from a variety of courses that matter most for your specific responsibilities
Save 10% when you purchase three or more courses in this series!
CAP members save even more. Find out how to join the CAP.
Available Courses (Online):
New! Regulatory and Compliance Oversight
Gain a greater understanding of federal and state regulatory issues and how to maintain a compliance program.
New! Decision-Making Skills for Laboratory Leaders
Learn constructive, practical strategies and tools to drive good decision making.
New! Information Ebb and Flow in the Laboratory
Explore laboratory information flow, data utilization, and effective communication of test use and results.
Planning and Executing New Test Systems
Understand the elements needed to evaluate, plan, and execute new tests and equipment in a variety of laboratory environments.
Critical Communication Practices for Laboratory Leadership
Learn strategies and techniques to promote constructive, uplifting conversations with your team or your clinical colleagues.
Managing Laboratory Operations
Gain insight into staffing qualified personnel, coordinating teams, assessing test system logistics, and more.
Building a Quality Management System
Develop a laboratory management program and understand laboratory quality improvement.
Essentials of Successful Laboratory Inspection and Accreditation
Gain an in-depth understanding of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) regulations.
Managing Risk to Build a Culture of Quality
Developing Successful Teams
Learn principles of effective team leadership and best practices for managing a team.
Pathology Business Fundamentals
The ever-evolving health care landscape requires pathology practices to employ specific non-clinical practice management skills. No matter your practice setting, managers must be informed, agile, and ready to respond to changing conditions. The Pathology Business Fundamentals program equips pathologists and practice managers with the essential tools needed to manage business operations.
This series allows you to select which topics you want to learn and earn 0.5–0.75 CME credit per course, or 4.5 CME for the entire series.
Save 10% when you purchase the entire series of eight courses!
CAP members save even more. Find out how to join the CAP.
Available Courses (Online):
Relative Value Units: Understanding the Basics
Learn how relative value units quantify physician work, practice expense, and more.
How Pathology Practices Get Paid
Identify the different relative value units, coding mechanisms, and payment models that ensure your practice gets paid.
Fundamentals of Revenue Cycle Management
Understand the key elements of your revenue cycle and the fundamentals of billing.
Analysis and Interpretation of Billing Reports
Effectively bill and collect for all the services your practice provides.
Basic Practice Cost Analysis
Apply a systematic approach to defining and calculating costs for tests, supply, and labor, and to managing your profitability.
Basic Contracting and Fee Analysis
Put your understanding of revenues, costs, and workflow management into action as you analyze a payer contract.
Capacity Management and Workflow Planning
Understand how workflow impacts financial health, and how to apply revenue generation and cost management concepts to your practice.
Basic Budget Development
Put your understanding of the Pathology Business Fundamentals series to work in creating a budget for an example practice.
Laboratory Medical Direction
Even if you've already learned how to manage your section or lead your projects, growing into the inspirational leader of your laboratory or practice brings a new set of responsibilities and challenges that may require more education. Laboratory Medical Direction, written by and for medical directors, is for pathologists who have recently become or want to be medical directors. This comprehensive program offers multiple formats to meet your needs.
Online Courses Only
For individuals with laboratory management responsibilities.
Components:
- Seven online CME courses
Online Courses and Workshop
For credentialed pathologists or individuals with laboratory management responsibilities
Components:
- Seven online CME courses
- Expert-led 1.5-day in-person workshop
- Certificate of Completion
Upcoming Live Workshop: Sign up now for April 10-11, 2025.
Save 10% when you purchase all courses in this series together!
CAP members save even more. Find out how to join the CAP.
Available Courses (Online):
Getting Your Message Across: Effective Communication Strategies
Successful Laboratory Leadership: Taking Action and Getting Results
Driving Excellence: Tools and Strategies for Managing Quality
Achieving Regulatory and Accreditation Compliance
Improving Patient Outcomes: Managing Risk and Reducing Errors
Working Together for Success: Key Strategies for Building Teams
Good Laboratory Decisions for Better Patient Care
Additional Resources
Help your practice thrive and grow with the CAP's practice management resources. Topics range from contracting, negotiating, and revenue cycle management to current trends and evolving performance measures.
Please contact education@cap.org with questions.