Address: 8865 Professional Drive
Cadillac, MI 49601
Phone: 231-468-2346
Advanced Pathology Services Website
I’m Fred S. Wreford MD. I specialize in the practice of Laboratory Medicine, both anatomic and clinical pathology. I am a board certified in anatomic and clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology. This means that in addition to completing medical school, I have trained for an additional five years learning how to make diagnoses from biopsies. I have been in private practice since 1991.
Why get a second opinion?
Because nobody’s prefect. Doctors are people and people make mistakes. The reason for a second opinion is to confirm the original diagnosis and to catch any error before it can cause harm. Think of a second opinion as “proof reading” the diagnosis. In my hospital, we do this as a routine when a person is diagnosed with cancer for the first time. It never hurts to have a second pair of eyes look at a case and most insurance companies cover the cost.
I also reveal and interpret clinical testing. Recently, the patient was told that she had a herpes infection based on blood work. She is extremely concerned about passing this infection to her children and didn’t feel that her clinician adequately explained the results. When I reviewed the test, it was apparent that the testing only showed that she had been exposed to the infection. I was able to advise her to get further testing. This showed that she was not infected but only exposed to the virus. I provided her with a report explaining the results in plain English, which she could understand. In have to say this provided her great emotional comfort and relief.
In today’s competitive medical market, hospitals are looking for ways to cut costs. To run a laboratory and hire pathologists is very expensive for hospitals. Because patients rarely see the laboratory it is an ideal place for hospital administrations to scrimp on spending.