Preoperative laboratory testing for the oral and maxillofacial surgery patient

Studies estimate that approximately 60% of preoperative testing could be eliminated without adversely affecting patient care. Unnecessary testing tends to cause extra risk to the patient, inefficient operating room schedules, and unnecessary costs. These extra tests may be hazardous to patients because of the pursuit and treatment of borderline positive or false-positive results. Furthermore, extra testing may also increase medicolegal risk, because the abnormalities that are discovered are usually not noted on the chart. A reliable and effective method for ordering laboratory tests to assess patients preoperatively and reduce morbidity and cost is presented.