An audit of repeat testing at an academic medical center: consistency of order patterns with recommendations and potential cost savings

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Title An audit of repeat testing at an academic medical center: consistency of order patterns with recommendations and potential cost savings
Publication Type thesis
School or College School of Medicine
Department Pathology
Author Hueth, Kyle Dean
Date 2018
Description We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of potentially unnecessary repeat testing (PURT) and the associated economic burden for an inpatient population at a large academic medical facility. For the target tests, we evaluated all inpatient test orders during 2016 for PURT by comparing the inter-test times to the maximum frequency indicated by guidance in the literature. Potential cost savings were calculated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services maximum allowable reimbursement rate. We evaluated result positivity as a determinant of PURT through logistic regression. Of the evaluated 4242 repeated target tests, 1854 (44%) were identified as PURT, representing an estimated cost savings opportunity of $37 830. Collectively, the association of result positivity and PURT was statistically significant (relative risk, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; P = 0.00). PURT contributes to unnecessary healthcare costs. We found that a small percentage of providers account for the majority of PURT, and PURT is associated with result positivity.
Type Text
Publisher University of Utah
Subject Medicine; health sciences; health care management
Dissertation Name Master of Science
Language eng
Rights Management (c) Kyle Dean Hueth
Format application/pdf
Format Medium application/pdf
ARK ark:/87278/s66162xx
Setname ir_etd
ID 1530427
Reference URL https://collections.lib.utah.edu/ark:/87278/s66162xx
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