Traditional laboratory utilization measures are unable to detect the results of small-scale utilization improvement efforts in a background of rising patient volumes and acuity. However, accurate assessment is necessary to document effectiveness of these efforts.
Test menu changes, physician education, and laboratory utilization feedback were used to address costs and overused tests. Effectiveness was evaluated using cost/case mix index (CMI)-adjusted hospital day and inpatient tests/CMI-adjusted discharge. These metrics were compared with the more traditional measures of cost/test and inpatient tests/discharge.
Cost/CMI-adjusted hospital day and inpatient tests/CMI-adjusted discharge better demonstrated the impact of utilization improvement efforts compared with more traditional measures because they account for changes in patient volume and acuity.
Cost/CMI-adjusted hospital day and tests/CMI-adjusted discharge show the effectiveness of laboratory utilization efforts despite increasing patient volume and acuity.