title: Decision making by pathologists. A strategy for curtailing the number of inappropriate tests.
abstract: Studies indicate that many laboratory tests are performed unnecessarily. We devised a strategy that proved very effective in curtailing unnecessary performance of immunoelectrophoretic analyses, based on the assumption of a decision-making role by the pathologist in rejecting a request for immunoelectrophoresis when serum protein electrophoresis and quantitative immunoglobulin levels are normal. The adoption of this policy resulted in a 67% reduction in the number of immunoelectrophoretic analyses performed in our laboratory. Thus, the assumption of a decision-making role by pathologists can be extremely effective in decreasing the number of inappropriate laboratory tests.
mesh_terms: D003363:Cost Control / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000592:standards*; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000592:standards*; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008824:Michigan; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical