Decentralized testing in the '90s. A survey of U.S. hospitals.
Laboratory testing is increasingly moving out of the central laboratory and into other areas of the hospital. Many factors are driving this trend, but most revolve around the desire for prompt, medical decision making guided by quick, convenient on-site or decentralized testing using emerging new technologies. Although many theories exist about the viability of on-site testing, research on the subject has been minimal. This article reviews the results of a 1993 independent survey on decentralized testing among laboratory managers at U.S. hospitals and quantifies various aspects of this new movement within such institutions.
Bickford
G R
GR
DuPont Medical Products.
D002497:Centralized Hospital Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006748:Hospital Departments / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data