Laboratory Test Utilization Management: General Principles and Applications in Hematopathology

Kaaren K Reichard; Adam J Wood

doi:10.1016/j.path.2015.10.002

Laboratory Test Utilization Management: General Principles and Applications in Hematopathology

Surg Pathol Clin. 2016 Mar;9(1):1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.path.2015.10.002.

Authors

Kaaren K Reichard¹, Adam J Wood²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Hematopathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: reichard.kaaren@mayo.edu.
² Division of Hematopathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

PMID: 26940264
DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2015.10.002

Abstract

As the cost of health care continues to rise and reimbursement rates decrease, there is a growing demand and need to cut overall costs, enhance quality of services, and maintain as a top priority the needs and safety of the patient. In this article, we provide an introduction to test utilization and outline a general approach to creating an efficient, cost-effective test utilization strategy. We also present and discuss 2 test utilization algorithms that are evidence-based and may be of clinical utility as we move toward the future of doing the necessary tests at the right time.

Keywords: Algorithms; Clinical value; Guidelines; Infrastructure; Intervention; Multidisciplinary; Strategy; Test utilization.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Algorithms
Clinical Laboratory Services / economics
Clinical Laboratory Services / statistics & numerical data*
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / economics
Diagnostic Tests, Routine / statistics & numerical data*
Evidence-Based Medicine / methods
Humans
Lymphoma / pathology
Myelodysplastic Syndromes / diagnosis
Neoplasm Staging
Pathology, Clinical / economics
Pathology, Clinical / organization & administration
Physician's Role
Practice Guidelines as Topic