Residents reduce lab tests, save $1.7M
October 24, 2013
A resident-led quality improvement incentive program significantly reduced unnecessary laboratory tests at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. In one year of study, neurosurgical trainees found a 47% reduction in testing, which led to a savings of $1.7 million in billable charges to healthcare payers and $75,000 of direct costs to the medical center. In addition, a number of metrics showed there were no significant negative effects in the quality of care delivered, meaning the cost savings did not negatively impact patient care, according to the study, released online at the Journal of Neurosurgery website.
Source: Journal of Neurosurgery