As the healthcare industry transitions from fee-for-service to value-based reimbursement, hospital systems are challenged to improve quality while reducing costs. While laboratory spending only accounts for 2-3% of overall healthcare costs, the laboratory drives 70-80% of downstream medical decisions 1, 2. For this reason, proper laboratory stewardship is critical in today’s healthcare industry.
This webinar will explore essential steps to establish an effective lab stewardship program, including governance and structure of stewardship committees. Dr. Fletcher will also outline strategies for implementing successful laboratory stewardship interventions. These strategies include consolidation of reference testing for cost reduction and improved turn-around time, reference test formulary development to limit inappropriate inpatient tests, and appropriate utilization of in-house testing, including discussion on the impact of order-sets, recurring daily lab tests, and duplicate lab tests. Each of these strategies will drive downstream savings and improve the quality of patient care in healthcare systems.
1 Donaldson K, Young D. An evidentiary rules-based approach to reducing unnecessary lab testing. Am J Clin Pathol. 2010;134:503
2 Forsman RW. Why is the laboratory an afterthought for managed care organizations? Clin Chem 1996;42:813–6.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe ways to establish a Laboratory Stewardship program with appropriate governance and engage ordering physicians.
- Develop and implement a reference laboratory test formulary.
- Identify opportunities and strategies to reduce duplicate and daily in-house tests.
- Formulate strategies to minimize downstream costs through appropriate testing.
This basic-level, complimentary webinar is produced by Whitehat Communications. Whitehat Communications is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program.
