Information sharing can reduce laboratory use by emergency physicians

Information sharing can result in a decrease in the number and cost of laboratories studies ordered by emergency physicians without an adverse change in routine quality improvement indicators.

Abstract

This study analyzed the effect information sharing through physician profiling would have on emergency physician behavior. It is a before-and-after audit of laboratory use in a community hospital. A 9-month control period was followed by a 15-month period in which the physicians' laboratory use was presented and discussed at monthly meetings. The laboratory use decreased 17.8%, from a mean of 2.36 studies per patient during the control period to 1.94 during the final quarter of the study. The actual laboratory costs per month decreased 17.7%, from a mean of $32,415 per month to $26,687 per month. There was only one possible adverse outcome out of 34,320 patients seen. There were no adverse changes in other quality improvement indicators. Information sharing can result in a decrease in the number and cost of laboratories studies ordered by emergency physicians without an adverse change in routine quality improvement indicators.