Digestive Disease Associates is a physician-owned gastroenterology practice led by Dr. Michael Dorfman and Dr. Christopher Illick. For years, the practice operated under a hybrid pathology model, performing technical work in-house while relying on outside labs for professional reads.
Although functional, this approach created increasing challenges, including turnaround times
that stretched up to two weeks, inconsistent report quality, limited communication with external pathologists, and growing patient anxiety while waiting for results.
“Patients were anxious waiting for results. From our perspective, the turnaround time,
sometimes up to two weeks, was the biggest drawback. Now with ECPC, we’re getting results in
48 hours,” says Dr. Dorfman.
From a leadership standpoint, the need for change was becoming clear. “Our old model had a
dwindling number of insurances that covered our pathology,” says Dr. Illick, Co-Managing
Partner at Digestive Disease Associates.
Momentum shifted when Dorfman learned that another Gastroenterology group in Connecticut
had successfully partnered with ECPC. Early conversations with ECPC leadership, including Dr.
Dennis O’Neill and Rebecca DiIorio, quickly confirmed alignment.
“It was obvious early on that they had their act together. They operate very similarly to how we do, independent, responsive, and focused on quality. I remember telling my partner, ‘I think this is the answer.’” — Dr. Michael Dorfman
Illick shared that same confidence. “Clearly experienced. Clearly professional,” he says. “ECPC is an independent practice and therefore philosophically synchronized with us.”
ECPC connected DDA with Lighthouse Laboratory Services to manage consulting and compliance. Rebecca remained actively involved throughout the build-out, reviewing plans and ensuring the final lab met ECPC’s standards. “Rebecca stayed involved through the entire
process, giving feedback and ensuring the end product would meet ECPC’s standards. It truly
felt like a partnership,” says Dr. Dorfman.
