Konger, Raymond L.Ndekwe, PaulJones, GeneaSchmidt, Ronald P.Trey, MartyBaty, Eric J.Wilhite, DeniseMunshi, Imtiaz A.Sutter, Bradley M.Rao, MaddamsettiBashir, Chowdry M.2017-03-222017-03-222016-03Konger, R. L., Ndekwe, P., Jones, G., Schmidt, R. P., Trey, M., Baty, E. J., ... & Bashir, C. M. (2016). Reduction in Unnecessary Clinical Laboratory Testing Through Utilization Management at a US Government Veterans Affairs Hospital. American journal of clinical pathology, 145(3), 355.https://hdl.handle.net/1805/12111Objectives: To implement an electronic laboratory utilization management system (laboratory expert system [LES]) to provide safe and effective reductions in unnecessary clinical laboratory testing. Methods: The LES is a set of frequency filter subroutines within the Veterans Affairs hospital and laboratory information system that was formulated by an interdisciplinary medical team.Results: Since implementing the LES, total test volume has decreased by a mean of 11.18% per year compared with our pre-LES test volume. This change was not attributable to fluctuations in outpatient visits or inpatient days of care. Laboratory cost savings were estimated at $151,184 and $163,751 for 2012 and 2013, respectively. A significant portion of these cost savings was attributable to reductions in high-volume, large panel testing. No adverse effects on patient care were reported, and mean length of stay for patients remained unchanged. Conclusions: Electronic laboratory utilization systems can effectively reduce unnecessary laboratory testing without compromising patient care.enCC0 1.0 Universalutilization managementcost containmentclinical laboratoryArticle