New diagnostic lab adds local option for providers

JOHNSON CITY — A new diagnostic laboratory has added a local option for health providers to run patient tests. Life Well Cadence Laboratories celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting Tuesday morning. The facility, owned and founded by Dr. Jenelle Musick, offers quick testing results and direct communication for physicians in the area. Musick, who also owns Life Well Pharmacy with her husband, said her specialized background is important for the region. As a doctor of clinical laboratory science, she has a background in research, laboratory and clinical work. "I can kind of see things through the lens of a provider and kind of understand what their thinking process is," she said. "And hopefully bridge the gap between the lab and clinical side with the knowledge… that's not something that you get every lab." Using other national networks with faraway labs can lead to increased turnaround times, Musick said — and when providers call, they're not always talking to someone running the lab. A local facility leads to quicker turnaround times and better provides for community needs, she added. "Our purpose is really to help physicians decide what is the best test," Musick said. "If there's a question what is the best test to order, they can just pick up the phone and call me." The journey to the lab's grand opening has been a long time in the making. Amid years of study and her husband's pharmaceutical work, Musick realized that a regional lab could fill a need. "I would say I probably started this process 20 years ago when I first started my research as a 19-year-old undergrad," she said. "And we've really been working on this piece of opening this lab specifically for a year and a half." The business has seven employees and can run a number of panels, including toxicology, hormone and immunology tests. Musick said she hopes to eventually process thousands of tests a month, including specimens from all over the country.