RSS Feeds
Altering Test-Ordering Behavior of Hospital Staff
Summaries for Patients are a service provided by Annals to help patients better understand the complicated and often mystifying language of modern medicine.
Summaries for Patients are presented for informational purposes only. These summaries are not a substitute for advice from your own medical provider. If you have questions about this material, or need medical advice about your own health or situation, please contact your physician. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the American College of Physicians.
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Several studies show that hospital staff often order too many laboratory and x-ray tests. The excessive test ordering adds unnecessary costs and sometimes results in false-positive findings. Researchers and managers have tried …
