Prudent laboratory usage, cost containment, and high quality medical care: are they compatible?

摘要: Inappropriate laboratory use by physicians is partly responsible for the rapid rise in health care costs. This falls into three categories--over-, under-, and misutilization. Overuse creates information overload physician has a detrimental effect on patient care. Abnormal results are frequently obscured massive amounts of requested information. Studies show that greater younger increased not associated with better outcome ranges from 26 per cent to 98 selected tests. Unnecessary tests can be eliminated no adverse quality. Laboratory improved variety approaches including education, feedback, implementation administrative changes and, finally, financial incentives or disincentives; last proven most effective. All should reinforced cost-conscious clinical settings foster "why" rather than "why not" philosophy. Improving may reduce costs maintain