UNITED CLINICAL LABORATORIES

UNITED CLINICAL LABORATORIES. United Clinical Laboratories was envisioned by the Dr. Robert VERNON who planned a cooperative laboratory service for processing medical tests ordered by doctors in Dubuque's three hospitals.

All three hospitals were originally served by the same pathologists. As new costly equipment was purchased, decisions were made concerning which of the hospitals would house it. This delicate balance was broken in 1966 when a high profiling chemistry analyzer was acquired. So that the community could benefit from the equipment, Dr. Vernon established Medical Services Laboratory in 1967 and housed the equipment outside any of the hospitals. In 1976 the pathologists' appeal to the hospitals to consolidate all pathological testing was rejected.

As federal money for hospitals fell, laboratories became a cost rather than a revenue source to hospitals. Consideration of the pathologists' proposal was resumed in 1983. In 1986 the formation of United Clinical Laboratories was announced with the consolidation of labs at Mercy, Finley and the pathologist owned lab, and Medical Services Lab owned by Pathology Associates of Dubuque, a for-profit cooperative whose board of directors involved three members from each organization. (1) The laboratory was opened in 1987 in what had been the basement of St. Raphael's School on Bluff Street.

In 1991 United Clinical Laboratories provided such varied services as blood chemistries, cytology, hematology, histology, microbiology, and serology. The participating hospitals have also achieved the efficiencies they had desired. (2)

In 2011 UCL operated from Mercy Medical Center-Dubuque, Mercy Medical Center-Dyersville, FINLEY HOSPITAL (THE), and Cathedral Square (Dubuque). (3)

The announcement was made in 2019 that the Laboratories was to be replaced after "an analysis of the lab's current business operations." The decision was to redesign the business model and transition from a joint venture to individually owned hospital-based laboratories. (4)

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Source:

1. Fisher, Benjamin, "United Clinical Laboratories Slated to be Replaced," Telegraph Herald, May 24, 2020, p. 3A

2. Moran, John. "United Clinical Laboratories," Julien's Journal, October 2011, p. 34

3. Ibid.

4. Fisher

The 1987 through 1993 Dubuque City Directory listed 205 Bluff.