Clinical Parasitology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
J Clin Microbiol. 2017 Dec;55(12):3321-3323. doi: 10.1128/JCM.01332-17. Epub 2017 Sep 27.
Optimal laboratory test utilization is important for providing high-quality clinical care and efficiently using limited health care resources. While microbiologists have long been advocates for appropriate laboratory test utilization, the widespread availability of electronic medical records capable of supporting clinician order entry and of clinical decision support tools (CDSTs) has provided expanded opportunities for implementing effective, automated test stewardship protocols. D. Nikolic et al. (J. Clin. Microbiol. 55:3350-3354, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01052-17) describe the results of implementing a CDST at their institution to curtail stool microbiology testing for patients hospitalized for more than 3 days. Their intervention significantly decreased unnecessary test orders and saved their laboratory over $8,000 in reagent and labor costs during an 11-month postintervention period. That report provides an excellent example of how clinical microbiologists can use electronic tools to optimize laboratory test utilization in their health care system.
优化实验室检测的利用对于提供高质量的临床护理和高效利用有限的医疗保健资源非常重要。虽然微生物学家长期以来一直倡导适当利用实验室检测，但电子病历的广泛可用性，能够支持临床医生下达医嘱和临床决策支持工具（CDST）的可用性，为实施有效的、自动化的检测管理协议提供了更多机会。D. Nikolic 等人（J. Clin. Microbiol. 55:3350-3354, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01052-17）描述了他们在所在机构实施 CDST 的结果，以减少住院时间超过 3 天的患者的粪便微生物检测。他们的干预措施显著减少了不必要的检测订单，并在干预后 11 个月内为实验室节省了超过 8000 美元的试剂和劳动力成本。该报告提供了一个很好的例子，说明临床微生物学家如何利用电子工具在他们的医疗系统中优化实验室检测的利用。
