Heart of the Rockies Regional Medical Center will begin offering direct access laboratory testing 
(DALT) at the Custer County Medical Center, 704 Edwards, Westcliffe, starting May 1.
Patients may order lab tests at discounted prices, from a set menu of 23 DALT tests, without a physician's order. Tests include blood chemistry for $35, lipid panel for $25, serum pregnancy for $25, hemoglobin A1c for $30, and glucose for $10. The full list of tests is posted online at hrrmc.com under the Wellness U tab.
DALT is available at the Custer County Medical Center, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome but DALT appointments may also be scheduled by calling (719) 783-2380.
“We are very pleased to collaborate with Custer County Medical Center to provide direct access lab testing to their service area,” said HRRMC CEO Bob Morasko.
DALT results are mailed within four days of the test date. If a patient's results are critical results, requiring urgent medical attention by a physician, HRRMC will immediately call the patient with the results.
HRRMC will not send DALT results to a patient's medical provider. It is the patient's responsibility to set up an appointment to review the test results with his or her provider.
Payment is required upfront, by cash, check or credit card. Insurance companies will not be billed, and in many cases insurance will not cover the cost of the tests because they are not ordered by a physician.
A waiver explaining DALT specifics must be reviewed and signed prior to the lab test. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
The laboratory results of direct access laboratory testing require additional expert interpretation and do not substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, which should be based on your physician's professional judgment, his or her review of your test results, the findings of physical examination and the review of your personal and family medical history.
