title: Laboratory Test Utilization Management: General Principles and Applications in Hematopathology.
abstract: As the cost of health care continues to rise and reimbursement rates decrease, there is a growing demand and need to cut overall costs, enhance quality of services, and maintain as a top priority the needs and safety of the patient. In this article, we provide an introduction to test utilization and outline a general approach to creating an efficient, cost-effective test utilization strategy. We also present and discuss 2 test utilization algorithms that are evidence-based and may be of clinical utility as we move toward the future of doing the necessary tests at the right time.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematopathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: reichard.kaaren@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Kaaren K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Reichard
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematopathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D064790:Clinical Laboratory Services / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D009190:Myelodysplastic Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010819:Physician's Role; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
keywords: Algorithms; Clinical value; Guidelines; Infrastructure; Intervention; Multidisciplinary; Strategy; Test utilization