title: Cost containment in emergency medicine.
abstract: High-cost laboratory tests, roentgenograms, medications, and supplies were the focus of a voluntary cost-containment effort initiated in a community hospital emergency department. The department microcomputer determined that 100 of 1,560 possible chargeable items were responsible for 90.9% of the total cost to patients. Emphasis on cost containment in general and specific emphasis on the 100 high-cost items resulted in a 10.2% reduction in laboratory and radiology charges and a 3.3% total savings to patients.
mesh_terms: D002140:California; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics; D003363:Cost Control; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000191:economics*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography / Q000191:economics; D014481:United States