| Providing clinicians with information on laboratory test costs leads to reduction in hospital expenditure. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 22272854 Owner: NLM Status: In-Data-Review |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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Objectives. We aimed to ascertain the efficacy of an intervention in which laboratory test costs were provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure, in reducing laboratory test costs over a 4-month period. Methods. This was a non-randomised intervention study in the Internal Medicine wards at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, in which the intervention was laboratory test costs provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure. The intervention period was the winter months of May - August 2008 and the pre-intervention period was the same months of the preceding year. In the two 4-month periods (2007 and 2008), the number of days in hospital and the laboratory tests ordered were computed for each patient admitted. For the intervention and control groups, pre- and post-intervention cost and days in hospital were estimated. Results. The mean cost per patient admitted in the intervention group decreased from R2 864.09 to R2 097.47 - a 27% reduction. The mean cost per day in the intervention group as a whole also decreased, from R442.90 to R284.14 - a 36% reduction. Conclusion. Displaying the charges for diagnostic tests on the laboratory request form may significantly reduce both the number and cost of tests ordered, and by doing so bring about considerable in-hospital cost savings. |
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Authors:
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S Ellemdin; P Rheeder; P Soma |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article Date: 2011-09-27 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde Volume: 101 ISSN: 0256-9574 ISO Abbreviation: S. Afr. Med. J. Publication Date: 2011 Oct |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2012-01-25 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0404520 Medline TA: S Afr Med J Country: South Africa |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 746-8 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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University of Pretoria. prashilla.soma@up.ac.za. |
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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