IS THERE STILL A NEED FOR THE GENERAL SURGICAL PATHOLOGIST

As the work of surgical pathologists becomes increasingly complex and specialized, we must ask whether there is stills need for the generali st, The answer to this question depends on a variety of factors within a given laboratory, including laboratory setting (service versus acad emic), specimen volume and composition, and level of staffing. The maj or advantages to maintaining staff expertise in general surgical patho logy include flexibility of scheduling and improvement in the overall quality of diagnostic work. However, academic teaching departments ine vitably require a higher level of subspecialization to accommodate res earch and teaching obligations. The advantages and limitations of main taining staff expertise in general surgical pathology are discussed in light of the system that has evolved in the author's own hospital-bas ed laboratory, in which expertise in general surgical pathology is req uired of all staff pathologists in addition to the development of expe rtise in one or more subspecialty areas. Current trends toward managed fare will demand that most of us maintain our general skills. Failure to do so may lead to consolidation of services and elimination of job s.