Organizing hospital laboratories for efficiency and quality.
Decreasing revenues from price controls in government programs and discounted fees and below-cost capitation contracts from private insurance companies have made cost control the main factor in laboratory decisions. Consolidation, which is already extensive in Independent Laboratories, is now coming to hospital laboratories. An Integrated Regional Laboratory is an effective way to adapt to these changes. This structure makes possible both cost savings and improved service quality, but significant time, work, and investment are required to establish one.
Pathology Medical Laboratories, San Diego, California, USA.
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Gausewitz
D017046:Cost Savings; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards