Summary
This white paper delves into the importance of having a test utilization program and outlines the beginning steps to start one. It reviews how and why lab tests are misordered and provides specific examples of ways to monitor test utilization that can improve patient care and reduce overall healthcare spending. In an environment that has little room for inefficiency or waste, it becomes imperative that laboratories take a proactive, involved role in making sure that the best tests are ordered and interpreted properly to contribute to our goal of better patient care.