Department of Internal Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria.
S Afr Med J. 2011 Sep 27;101(10):746-8.
We aimed to ascertain the efficacy of an intervention in which laboratory test costs were provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure, in reducing laboratory test costs over a 4-month period.
This was a non-randomised intervention study in the Internal Medicine wards at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, Pretoria, in which the intervention was laboratory test costs provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure. The intervention period was the winter months of May - August 2008 and the pre-intervention period was the same months of the preceding year. In the two 4-month periods (2007 and 2008), the number of days in hospital and the laboratory tests ordered were computed for each patient admitted. For the intervention and control groups, pre- and post-intervention cost and days in hospital were estimated.
The mean cost per patient admitted in the intervention group decreased from R2 864.09 to R2 097.47 - a 27% reduction. The mean cost per day in the intervention group as a whole also decreased, from R442.90 to R284.14 - a 36% reduction.
Displaying the charges for diagnostic tests on the laboratory request form may significantly reduce both the number and cost of tests ordered, and by doing so bring about considerable in-hospital cost savings.
我们旨在确定一项干预措施的疗效，即向临床医生提供实验室检查费用的袖珍手册，以在 4 个月内降低实验室检查费用。
这是在比勒陀利亚史蒂夫·比科学术医院内科病房进行的一项非随机干预研究，干预措施是向临床医生提供实验室检查费用的袖珍手册。干预期为 2008 年 5 月至 8 月的冬季，而干预前时期为前一年同期的相同月份。在两个 4 个月的时间段（2007 年和 2008 年）内，为每位入院患者计算住院天数和所开实验室检查数量。对于干预组和对照组，估计了干预前和干预后的成本和住院天数。
干预组每位入院患者的平均费用从 2864.09 兰特降至 2097.47 兰特，降幅为 27%。干预组的平均日费用也整体下降，从 442.90 兰特降至 284.14 兰特，降幅为 36%。
在实验室申请单上显示诊断测试的收费情况可能会显著减少所开测试的数量和成本，并通过这种方式带来可观的住院成本节约。
