SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Counting the Costs: Exploring Internal Medicine Residents' Awareness of Financial Implications in Healthcare

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This project examined internal medicine residents’ awareness of the financial costs of common inpatient tests and whether a cost-focused educational intervention could improve that awareness.<br /><br />A cross-sectional survey was first distributed to residents to assess baseline knowledge of the costs of routine laboratory tests and imaging, as well as their attitudes toward considering cost when ordering studies. Residents then participated in four interactive, case-based afternoon report/didactic sessions. During these sessions, the costs of common labs and imaging were presented using the hospital’s Medicare cost list and online cost-estimator tool. Residents worked in breakout groups and were challenged to order the minimum number of tests needed to make a diagnosis; the group that reached the diagnosis with the lowest-cost workup won. A post-intervention survey was completed after the sessions.<br /><br />The findings showed that although some residents had previously received education on cost containment, there were still substantial gaps in their knowledge of the actual costs of common medical tests. The intervention was designed to address this gap by making cost awareness more practical, interactive, and relevant to clinical decision-making.<br /><br />The authors conclude that incorporating cost-consciousness into medical education is important for both patient care and healthcare system sustainability. Teaching high-value care through repeated, interactive sessions can help residents develop the knowledge and skills needed to make cost-aware decisions, support value-based care, and better balance clinical excellence with fiscal responsibility.

Asset Subtitle

Sarah Kosse

Meta Tag

Author List Alexandria Markley, Krystle T. Hernandez, Madelin Fenianos, Randy Leibowitz, Sarah Kosse, Vasundhara Singh

Category Research

Concept Test Cost

Concept Cost Awareness

Concept Cost Consciousness

Concept Minimum Necessary Test

Concept Inpatient Laboratory Testing

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside/West

Presenting Author Sarah Kosse

Track Value in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

internal medicine residents

cost awareness

inpatient tests

financial costs

educational intervention

high-value care

laboratory tests

imaging studies

cost-consciousness

medical education

Test Cost

Cost Awareness

Cost Consciousness

Minimum Necessary Test

Inpatient Laboratory Testing