Managed care and the hospital laboratory: survival of the fittest.
The authors review the reasons behind the currently evolving restructuring within the healthcare industry and its implications for hospital laboratories. They predict a continuing decline in the volume of inpatient care with a similar effect on the volume of hospital laboratory testing. They also foresee a shift to independent laboratories in the volume of outpatient testing--currently a key revenue source for many hospital laboratories. For those hospitals that redefine their mission, inpatient testing for higher-acuity patients is one role, as is managing point-of-care testing in nontraditional settings.
Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL.
R P
RP
De Cresce
M S
MS
Lifshitz
L J
LJ
Logue
D003284:Contract Services / Q000639:trends; D005544:Forecasting; D006754:Hospital Restructuring; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States