SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Effect on Laboratory Test Utilization by Hospitalists Following Implementation of a Performance Feedback System

Effect on Laboratory Test Utilization by Hospitalists Following Implementation of a Performance Feedback System

Pdf Summary

This project evaluated whether a weekly performance feedback dashboard could reduce laboratory test overutilization by general internal medicine (GIM) hospitalists at a tertiary academic medical center. Overuse of laboratory testing is a major source of unnecessary healthcare spending and can contribute to harms such as hospital-acquired anemia from repeated phlebotomy.<br /><br />The intervention consisted of weekly reports sent to providers for 3 months. These reports ranked GIM teams by lab utilization, defined as the number of labs ordered divided by patient encounters, and normalized for census. The study compared lab utilization during the intervention period with the same 3-month period in the prior year.<br /><br />The results showed decreased laboratory use after dashboard implementation. Reported net changes were -0.71 and -0.54 in utilization rate, corresponding to estimated savings of $24,500 and $18,200, respectively. Overall, the findings suggest that transparent, regular performance feedback can meaningfully influence ordering behavior and reduce low-value care in inpatient settings.<br /><br />In summary, a weekly lab utilization dashboard for hospitalist-led teams was associated with lower testing rates and cost savings, supporting performance feedback as a practical quality improvement strategy.

Asset Subtitle

Ankur Segon

Meta Tag

Author List Ankur Segon, Caroline McCormick, Sarvpreet Ahluwalia

Category Research

Concept Laboratory Test

Concept Laboratory Utilization

Concept Healthcare Utilization Cost

Concept Performance Feedback Dashboard

Concept Patient Harm

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine

Presenting Author Ankur Segon

Track Value in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

laboratory test overutilization

weekly performance feedback dashboard

general internal medicine hospitalists

tertiary academic medical center

lab utilization

low-value care

quality improvement

cost savings

inpatient settings

performance feedback

Laboratory Test

Laboratory Utilization

Healthcare Utilization Cost

Performance Feedback Dashboard

Patient Harm