title: Likelihood ratios reporting in a tertiary hospital emergency department; a pilot study.
abstract: The Emergency Department and the laboratory of our institution jointly developed simple Clinical Pathways for some important clinical conditions (pulmonary embolism, acute myocardial infarction, bile-pancreatic disease) and since May 2004 the positive and negative likelihood ratios have been added to the reports of the tests included in the clinical pathways. In the first semester 30% of clinicians adopted the new mode of tests requesting AMI, Pulmonary embolism and bile pancreatic clinical pathways, respectively, 24% 32% and 42%. According to a survey carried out in 2004 all the ED staff had knowledge of the project. A real partnership developed between the laboratory staff and Emergency Department physicians leading to the adoption of the Evidence Based Laboratory Medicine tools in the decision making process.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedaliera Arcispedale S. Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariacaterina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maconi
authors.forename: Romolo M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Dorizzi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baricchi
authors.forename: Maria Piera
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ferrini
authors.forename: Debora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brini
mesh_terms: D019091:Critical Pathways; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D055416:Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine; D006801:Humans; D015274:Interdepartmental Relations; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis