title: Evaluation of bedside testing options for the critical care unit.
abstract: Bedside testing offers a unique opportunity for earlier and more specific diagnosis, faster and more frequent monitoring, and the opportunity to improve patient care and reduce hospital costs. However, if abused it may not improve patient care and may increase hospital costs. In the future, more clinical studies will need to be performed to determine which tests are cost-effective.
authors.affiliation: Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Zaloga
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003422:Critical Care; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics; D007902:Length of Stay; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014556:Urine / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium