Jennifer Tatum, RN, BSN, has started a new business to help with lab work at home, hence the name, Lab At Home.
“I have been a home-health nurse for St. John’s in the area for 16 years and I started the business because I saw a need in patients who needed help at home with lab work and what have you, but their insurance, usually Medicare, would not cover,” said Tatum. “In Medicare, their home health benefit, that is one thing that they just don’t cover and it frustrated me to no end to see patients who still needed help and couldn’t get it that way.”
The business began in April. She covers Southwest Missouri and works during the week, from early in the morning to 5 p.m.
“I go into patients’ homes and draw lab work or blood work that is ordered from their physician,” said Tatum. “I charge $20 for a draw fee. Then at point of contact, I take the insurance information and the lab will file the insurance for the analysis fee.”
Other services include injections, urinary catheter insertion or routine change, routine infusaport care, wound care, IV therapy and sterile dressing changes for Central IV catheters including PICC lines. Costs vary and fees don’t include supplies.
“My service takes approximately 10 minutes versus the hour it may take round trip to go to the outpatient lab,” she said. “In most instances, the physician has the lab results same day.”
Currently, she has about 20-25 patients a week.
“Business is growing, I get new patients,” said Tatum. “The customers that I have, they all have used me again, repeatedly.”
For more information on what she offers with Lab At Home and prices, contact Tatum at 438-6638 or www.labathomeoroffice.com.
