Empowering medicine residents to order labs mindfully to improve patient-centered care

Unnecessary laboratory testing of hospitalized patients is prevalent.

We conducted a study focused on "mindful ordering" to decrease unnecessary laboratory ordering within an Internal Medicine residency program.

We collected survey data on resident/faculty perceptions of laboratory ordering as well as order information from the electronic medical record (EMR).

Interventions focused on resident-identified barriers such as knowledge, EMR, habit and faculty expectations. Interventions were cumulative and included resident/faculty education and EMR optimization.

We assessed basic and complete metabolic panels (BMP, CMP) and complete blood counts with and without differential (CBC w/diff, w/o diff). Primary outcomes included: total labs ordered per week, lab and frequency, and resident perception of ordering practices. Secondary outcomes included: length-of stay (LOS) and venipuncture utilization.

Survey data demonstrated increased resident perception of both mindful ordering and team discussion. Total labs ordered per week decreased 20% in the first year (1944 to 1500 labs/week). Residents' use of the "one-time draw" option increased; use of "daily" frequency decreased. Trends showed an increase in BMP relative to CMP, and an increase in CBC w/o diff relative to CBC w/diff. These changes were sustained through 127 weeks. There was an approximately 10% decrease in monthly average of patients undergoing venipuncture each day (86.7% to 74.2%). The shifts in laboratory ordering in conjunction with increased discussion about labs suggest a sustained change in resident lab ordering behavior. This study shows the impact of focusing interventions on resident-identified barriers to mindful ordering to create a sustained decrease laboratory orders.