Evaluation of utilization of laboratory tests in a hospital emergency room

Z. Bloomgarden and V.W. Sidel

American Journal of Public Health, 1980, vol. 70, issue 5, 525-528

Abstract: Visits to a metropolitan teaching hospital emergency room were evaluated for laboratory test utilization and quality of care by chart review. Of 630 tests, 197 (32 per cent), clustered in 44 out of 476 (9 per cent) patient visits, were considered unnecessary. The number of tests per visit showed a strong negative correlation with the necessity of tests and with the quality of care. Results suggest the usefulness of identifying a subgroup of patients with excessive tests and implementing measures to alter testing behavior for this subgroup.

Date: 1980
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.70.5.525_4

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.70.5.525

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