title: Utilization management in a large urban academic medical center: a 10-year experience.
abstract: Management of laboratory test utilization presents an ongoing challenge. Most studies reported in the literature have described efforts to control one or a few tests, but the results cannot be generalized to a broader utilization management strategy. Herein we report our experiences with an organizational utilization management program during a 10-year period. Cumulatively, our program has achieved significant success, saving millions of dollars in blood components and reducing inpatient tests per discharge by 26%. Highlights from our experiences include the importance of implementing an institutional organizational structure to support utilization management, the central role fulfilled by clinical pathologists as leaders of the program, the ability to obtain timely utilization data, and careful selection of the most appropriate implementation tools tailored to the unique circumstances of each utilization management initiative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
authors.forename: Ji Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Walter H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Dzik
authors.forename: Anand S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dighe
authors.forename: Kent B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Lewandrowski
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D017046:Cost Savings; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006296:Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data