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George D. Everett, MD; C. Susan deBlois, MSW; Pao-Fang Chang, MA, MS

Arch Intern Med. 1983;143(5):942-944.

Abstract
• A randomized controlled trial of several strategies designed to reduce the use of laboratory tests by house staff was performed in two parts. Part 1 compared cost education, cost audits, and both methods combined, all after a baseline observation period. Significant reductions were achieved only in the combination group for the categories of total tests (9.4%) and Sequential Multiple Analysis (SMA)-12 (10.8%), but not for charges, SMA-6, or complete blood cell counts (CBCs). Part 2 compared a group subjected to faculty chart review with a control group. Significant reductions in total charges (9.8%), total tests (15.1%), SMA-12s (20.6%), SMA-6s (12.5%), and CBCs (18.5%) were observed in the intervention group, as compared with the control group. Among the methods examined, faculty chart review seems to be the most effective method of reducing the amount of laboratory testing performed by house staff.

(Arch Intern Med 1983;143:942-944)

Author Affiliations
Tom Holets

From the Departments of Internal Medicine (Dr Everett, Ms Chang, and Mr Holets) and Social Service (Ms deBlois), University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 10, 1982.

Reprint requests to Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 (Dr Everett).

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