(Press-News.org) Contact information: Alexander Brown
alexander.brown@springer.com
212-620-8063
Springer Science+Business Media
Study shows displaying lab costs upfront can save money
Including real-time cost of lab tests in electronic health system could make physicians think twice before ordering them
Health care costs continue to go up, and physicians control more than 80 percent of those costs. Could providing physicians with real-time information about the cost of what they order help to restrain excessive testing? This is the question addressed in an article¹ in the Journal of General Internal Medicine², published by Springer. The research project was led by Daniel Horn of the Massachusetts General Hospital's Division of General Medicine in the US, and is among the first to focus on the impact that the passive display of real-time laboratory costs can have within a primary care, non-academic setting.
The study was conducted among 215 primary care physicians working in Atrius Health, an alliance of six non-profit medical groups, and a home health and hospice agency in Massachusetts, where an integrated electronic health record system is used. Physicians in the intervention group received real-time information on laboratory costs for 27 individual tests when they placed their electronic orders, while the control group did not. Changes in the monthly laboratory ordering rate between the intervention and control groups were compared for 12 months before and six months after the intervention started. Six months after the intervention, all physicians taking part in the study were also asked to assess their attitudes regarding costs and cost displays.
The researchers found a significant decrease in the ordering rates of both high and low cost range tests by physicians to whom the costs of the tests were displayed electronically in real-time. This included a significant relative decrease in ordering rates for four of the 21 lower cost laboratory tests, and one of six higher cost laboratory tests.
In addition, physicians were generally very receptive to the intervention. A majority (81 percent) reported that the exercise increased their knowledge regarding costs of care and requesting real-time cost information on an expanded set of health care services.
"Our study demonstrates that electronic health records can serve as a tool to promote cost transparency, educate physicians and reduce the use of potentially unnecessary laboratory tests by integrating the relative cost of care into providers' decision-making processes," writes Thomas D. Sequist, MD, MPH, of Atrius Health, the senior author on the study who believes that reducing overuse of unnecessary health care services such as laboratory testing is important in controlling the rising costs in the US health care system. "It's like putting price labels on goods you buy in the supermarket. When you know the prices, you tend to buy more strategically."
###
References:
1. Horn, D.M. et al (2013). The Impact of Cost Displays on Primary Care Physician Laboratory Test Ordering, Journal of General Internal Medicine, DOI 10.1007/s11606-013-2672-1.
2. The Journal of General Internal Medicine is the official journal of the Society of General Internal Medicine.
Study shows displaying lab costs upfront can save money
Including real-time cost of lab tests in electronic health system could make physicians think twice before ordering them
2013-11-21
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
High HIV knowledge and risky sexual behavior not associated with HIV testing in young adolescents
2013-11-21
High HIV knowledge and risky sexual behavior not associated with HIV testing in young adolescents
Strongest independent predictors of testing include high HIV-related partner communication and being in a committed relationship
NEW YORK (November ...
Where and how are fear-related behaviors and anxiety disorders controlled?
2013-11-21
Where and how are fear-related behaviors and anxiety disorders controlled?
Using an approach combining in vivo recordings and optogenetic manipulations in mice, the researchers succeeded in showing that the inhibition of parvalbumin-expressing ...
Cincinnati Children's researchers develop first molecular test to diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis
2013-11-21
Cincinnati Children's researchers develop first molecular test to diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis
Researchers at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center have developed the first molecular test to diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), ...
Early-career investigator discovers current volcanic activity under West Antarctica
2013-11-21
Early-career investigator discovers current volcanic activity under West Antarctica
Seismic 'swarms' indicate active magma moving below critical area of Antarctica's ice sheet
Scientists funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have observed "swarms" of seismic ...
MU research sheds light on nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury
2013-11-21
MU research sheds light on nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fish, unlike humans, can regenerate nerve connections and recover normal mobility following an injury to their spinal cord. Now, University of Missouri researchers ...
Infrared vision lets researchers see through -- and into -- multiple layers of graphene
2013-11-21
Infrared vision lets researchers see through -- and into -- multiple layers of graphene
Scientists have developed a technique for studying individual sheets of graphene in a stack -- even when the sheets are covering each other up.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's not X-ray ...
Optimal site for cell transplantation to treat spinal cord injury investigated
2013-11-21
Optimal site for cell transplantation to treat spinal cord injury investigated
Putnam Valley, NY. (Nov. 21 2013) – It is known that transplanting neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PCs) into the spinal cord promotes functional recovery ...
License to Ill
2013-11-21
License to Ill
Firms that engaged in prior socially responsible behavior are more likely to then engage in socially irresponsible behavior, research finds
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In 2008, the CEO of British Petroleum, Tony Hayward announced that BP's ...
Newly discovered brown fat cells hold possibilities for treating diabetes, obesity
2013-11-21
Newly discovered brown fat cells hold possibilities for treating diabetes, obesity
(Salt Lake City) —Obesity and diabetes have become a global epidemic leading to severe cardiovascular disease. Researchers at the University of Utah believe their ...
UCLA research could enhance treatments for drug-resistant melanoma
2013-11-21
UCLA research could enhance treatments for drug-resistant melanoma
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, killing more than 8,000 in the U.S. each year. Approximately 40 percent of advanced melanoma tumors are driven to grow by the presence ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
New research boosts future whooping cough vaccines
Mechanistic understanding could enable better fast-charging batteries
No bones about it: new details about skeletal cell aging revealed
UNM scientists discover how nanoparticles of toxic metal used in MRI scans infiltrate human tissue
UMaine research examines best methods for growing Atlantic sea scallops
Medical cannabis could speed recovery, especially at community recovery homes
Study assesses U.S. image amid weakening of democracy
Two scientific researchers to receive 2025 Ralph L. Sacco Scholarships for Brain Health
Researchers improve chemical reaction that underpins products from foods to fuels
Texas Tech to develop semiconductor power devices through $6 million grant
Novel genomic screening tool enables precision reverse-engineering of genetic programming in cells
Hot Schrödinger cat states created
How cells repair their power plants
Oxygen is running low in inland waters—and humans are to blame
ACP’s Best Practice Advice addresses use of cannabis, cannabinoids for chronic noncancer pain
Beyond photorespiration: A systematic approach to unlocking enhanced plant productivity
How a small number of mutations can fuel outbreaks of western equine encephalitis virus
Exposure to wildfire smoke linked with worsening mental health conditions
Research uncovers hidden spread of one of the most common hospital-associated infections
Many older adults send their doctors portal messages, but who pays?
Fine particulate matter from 2020 California wildfires and mental health–related emergency department visits
Gender inequity in institutional leadership roles in US academic medical centers
Pancreatic cells ‘remember’ epigenetic precancerous marks without genetic sequence mutations
Rare combination of ovarian tumors found in one patient
AI-driven clinical recommendations may aid physician decision making to improve quality of care
Artificial intelligence has potential to aid physician decisions during virtual urgent care
ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine present breaking scientific news at ACP’s Internal Medicine Meeting 2025
New study reveals polymers with flawed fillers boost heat transfer in plastics
Signs identified that precede sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in young people
Discovery of bacteria's defence against viruses becomes a piece of the puzzle against resistance
[Press-News.org] Study shows displaying lab costs upfront can save moneyIncluding real-time cost of lab tests in electronic health system could make physicians think twice before ordering them