[Role of laboratory medicine in medical care--from the point of view of a manager].
The Japanese health insurance system has been praised because of the comprehensive coverage of medical costs. The long lifespan of Japanese, the longest in the world, however, because economic conditions are getting worse and medical costs are increasing with the increase of aged people in Japan, the health insurance system is under pressure. The Japanese government is going to start to reduce costs of medical care by applying a system like the DRG/PPS system in the USA, called Diagnosis Procedure Combination(DPC), next year in university hospitals. Under the DPC system, laboratory tests will be non-profit. We have to change the management style of clinical laboratories to cut costs for tests and labor as much as possible, choose tests selectively, respond rapidly to clinical needs, and utilize information technology efficiently for processing of laboratory data. Therefore, corresponding to changes in the medical care system, laboratory medicine has been changing. Commercial clinical laboratories are expanding their pressure in hospitals, and in-hospital laboratories are having a very hard time coping with the pressure. Since laboratory medicine is an essential part of clinical practice, we do not have to be antagonistic.
Takahashi
Hakuo
H
Department of Clinical Sciences and Laboratory Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Moriguchi 570-8507.
D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000191:economics*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D009313:National Health Programs