For years,
laboratory directors have been developing innovative solutions to manage hospital lab budgets.
Incentives introduced in recent payment reforms introduce a new imperative to engage ordering physicians in efficient use of laboratory resources in both traditionally revenue generating areas (outpatient labs) as hospital-based lab resources.
Close attention to appropriate use of new diagnostic tests through the
application of available comparative effectiveness research, peer review,
and variation reporting, rigorous use of evidence-based guidelines on
more established tests, and innovative use of information technology to
expand on decision support, order sets and protocols are familiar tactics
to be reinvented and revived for the coming era.