Biomedical subjects

J Tydeman

Publications and source records attributed to J Tydeman.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1983

Analyzing the factors contributing to rising laboratory costs.

A new method for analyzing factors that contribute to the rising costs of hospital laboratories was used to analyze data from a Canadian teaching hospital for the period of 1971 to 1981. Results indicated that real cost per acute care admission has doubled, primarily because more tests are performed and the factors of production in laboratories are costlier. Increasingly sophisticated technology in the laboratory has increased productivity, and thus reduced cost per test; however, increased intensity of testing apparently has not been accompanied by reduced length of stay.

British Columbia↗

PubMed1982

The cost of quality control procedures in the clinical laboratory.

The impact of quality control procedures on the workload and the cost of the clinical laboratory during the last decade is explored. Quality control procedures are shown to represent a relatively constant share of test procedures for acute care admissions. The effect of automation on quality control testing in the laboratory has been to reduce the workload units per quality control test and thus to reduce the relative share of total laboratory costs incurred by quality control. The need to assess changes in the cost of quality control testing against any change in quality of laboratory output is emphasized.

British Columbia↗

PubMed1982

Structuring complexity of testing: a process oriented approach to limiting unnecessary laboratory use.

The concept of structuring complexity is described as a process in which, during medical investigation, intensity of laboratory examination is escalated as the perceived complexity of diagnostic need increases. Application of this concept to laboratory controlled testing protocols is discussed. A clinical chemistry protocol for thyroid testing of ambulatory care patients in British Columbia resulted in a 15% reduction in test use and a 12% reduction in laboratory charges to the third party paying agent over a two-year period. The need to develop medically acceptable laboratory protocols that encourage selective test utilization and reduce cost is emphasized.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗

PubMed1981

Laboratory costs and utilization: a framework for analysis and policy design.

A conceptual framework is outlined as the basis for analysis and evaluation of laboratory test-ordering patterns. This framework highlights the input, process, and output phases of the laboratory inquiry system. Data are presented from a contemporary Canadian study to show that the cost of laboratory testing is escalating and represents a sizable proportion of hospital costs. Practical policy interventions intent on reducing the costs in this complex system will require thorough analysis within a conceptual framework such as is outlined here and will require ultimately sophisticated control programs at various levels in the laboratory inquiry system.

Clinical Laboratory Techniques↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical chemistry equipment: a computerized system for cost evaluation.

A computerized decision-support system has been developed and implemented to assist in the economic evaluation of alternative clinical chemistry equipment configurations. The capabilities, structure, and relative merits of the system are discussed. This decision-support system is now being used extensively by hospitals in British Columbia. An alternative equipment configuration, identified with the aid of the system, resulted in one hospital alone saving an annual $200,000 in consumables and reagents costs. Further development of computerized economic evaluation systems is encouraged.

British Columbia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The cost of laboratory technology: a framework for cost management.

Laboratory costs at Vancouver General Hospital have been increasing over the past decade. Of the numerous explanations that have been offered for these increases, one contributing factor is the impact of automation and technology. An aggregate measure of laboratory technology was constructed and the net contribution to cost per acute care admission was estimated. Technology has two counteracting effects: It stimulates demand for tests, thus increasing cost per acute care admission, and it increases productivity, thus reducing costs. Effective management may be able to achieve the cost reductions without incurring an increased demand.

Automation↗