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Changing clinicians' laboratory test requesting behaviour: can the poacher turn gamekeeper?
R Gama1, A J Hartland, M R Holland
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, UK. dr.gama@rwh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk
Clinical Laboratory
|February 24, 2001
Summary
Rising laboratory costs are a concern. Expert systems integrating multiple strategies can reduce unnecessary laboratory tests, improving efficiency and saving money.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Laboratory Science
- Health Informatics
Background:
- Laboratory costs have significantly increased due to a rise in the number of investigations performed.
- Many laboratory investigations are perceived as wasteful, contributing to escalating healthcare expenses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore strategies for reducing unnecessary laboratory test utilization.
- To propose a novel approach leveraging technology to overcome limitations of existing methods.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing strategies for curtailing laboratory usage.
- Proposal of an expert system at the clinical-laboratory interface.
- Utilizing a multifactorial approach within a collaborative framework.
Main Results:
- No single strategy has proven universally successful in reducing laboratory test usage.
- A combination of strategies is likely more effective than individual approaches.
- Modern computing offers potential solutions to the challenges in managing laboratory utilization.
Conclusions:
- Expert systems integrating multifactorial approaches show promise for reducing inappropriate laboratory usage.
- Commitment from both clinicians and laboratorians is crucial for successful implementation.
- Technological solutions can address obstacles hindering the adoption of cost-saving strategies in laboratory testing.