Electronic Prompts Can Reduce The Number Of Unnecessary Clotting Screens Ordered For Patients

In an attempt to reduce the number of inappropriate clotting screens being performed in our Trust, an electronic prompt was introduced to our haematology requesting system. Over the six month period after introduction of this prompt the number of clotting screen requests reduced by 7001, representing a 21% reduction when compared to the same 6 month period one year earlier. This represented a cost saving of over £98,000 without any increase in adverse incidents being reported related to bleeding complications.