Raymond L Konger1, Paul Ndekwe2, Genea Jones3, Ronald P Schmidt4, Marty Trey5, Eric J Baty3, Denise Wilhite3, Imtiaz A Munshi6, Bradley M Sutter7, Maddamsetti Rao7, Chowdry M Bashir8. 1. From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis Department of Pathology, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN rkonger@iupui.edu. 2. From the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. 3. Department of Pathology, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN. 4. Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Syracuse, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY. 5. Office of Information and Technology, Syracuse, Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY. 6. Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis Department of Surgery, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN. 7. Department of Medicine, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN. 8. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis Department of Medicine, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To implement an electronic laboratory utilization management system (laboratory expert system [LES]) to provide safe and effective reductions in unnecessary clinical laboratory testing. METHODS: The LES is a set of frequency filter subroutines within the Veterans Affairs hospital and laboratory information system that was formulated by an interdisciplinary medical team. RESULTS: Since implementing the LES, total test volume has decreased by a mean of 11.18% per year compared with our pre-LES test volume. This change was not attributable to fluctuations in outpatient visits or inpatient days of care. Laboratory cost savings were estimated at $151,184 and $163,751 for 2012 and 2013, respectively. A significant portion of these cost savings was attributable to reductions in high-volume, large panel testing. No adverse effects on patient care were reported, and mean length of stay for patients remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic laboratory utilization systems can effectively reduce unnecessary laboratory testing without compromising patient care. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.
OBJECTIVES: To implement an electronic laboratory utilization management system (laboratory expert system [LES]) to provide safe and effective reductions in unnecessary clinical laboratory testing. METHODS: The LES is a set of frequency filter subroutines within the Veterans Affairs hospital and laboratory information system that was formulated by an interdisciplinary medical team. RESULTS: Since implementing the LES, total test volume has decreased by a mean of 11.18% per year compared with our pre-LES test volume. This change was not attributable to fluctuations in outpatient visits or inpatient days of care. Laboratory cost savings were estimated at $151,184 and $163,751 for 2012 and 2013, respectively. A significant portion of these cost savings was attributable to reductions in high-volume, large panel testing. No adverse effects on patient care were reported, and mean length of stay for patients remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic laboratory utilization systems can effectively reduce unnecessary laboratory testing without compromising patient care. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, 2016. This work is written by US Government employees and is in the public domain in the US.
Entities:
Keywords:
Clinical laboratory; Cost containment; Frequency filter; Test reduction; Utilization management
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