Utilization management in a large urban academic medical center: a 10-year experience

Management of laboratory test utilization presents an ongoing challenge. Most studies reported in the literature have described efforts to control one or a few tests, but the results cannot be generalized to a broader utilization management strategy. Herein we report our experiences with an organizational utilization management program during a 10-year period. Cumulatively, our program has achieved significant success, saving millions of dollars in blood components and reducing inpatient tests per discharge by 26%. Highlights from our experiences include the importance of implementing an institutional organizational structure to support utilization management, the central role fulfilled by clinical pathologists as leaders of the program, the ability to obtain timely utilization data, and careful selection of the most appropriate implementation tools tailored to the unique circumstances of each utilization management initiative.