Evaluation and cost estimation of laboratory test overuse in 43 commonly ordered parameters through a Computerized Clinical Decision Support System (CCDSS) in a large university hospital

Background Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems (CCDSS) have become increasingly important in ensuring patient safety and supporting all phases of clinical decision making. The aim of this study is to evaluate, through a CCDSS, the rate of the laboratory tests overuse and to estimate the cost of the inappropriate requests in a large university hospital. Method In this observational study, hospital physicians submitted the examination requests for the inpatients through a Computerized Physician Order Entry. Violations of the rules in tests requests were intercepted and counted by a CCDSS, over a period of 20 months. Descriptive and inferential statistics (Student'st-test and ANOVA) were made. Finally, the monthly comprehensive cost of the laboratory tests was calculated. Results During the observation period a total of 5,716,370 requests were analyzed and 809,245 violations were counted. The global rate of overuse was 14.2% +/- 3.0%. The most inappropriate exams were Alpha Fetoprotein (85.8% +/- 30.5%), Chlamydia trachomatis Nucleic Acid Amplification (48.7% +/- 8.8%) and Alkaline Phosphatase (20.3% +/- 6.5%). The monthly cost of over-utilization was 56,534euro for basic panel, 14,421euro for coagulation, 4,758euro for microbiology, 432euro for immunology exams. All the exams, generated an estimated avoidable cost of 1,719,337euro (85,967euro per month) for the hospital. Conclusions The study confirms the wide variability in over-utilization rates of laboratory tests. For these reasons, the real impact of inappropriateness is difficult to assess, but the generated costs for patients, hospitals and health systems are certainly high and not negligible. It would be desirable for international medical communities to produce a complete panel of prescriptive rules for all the most common laboratory exams that is useful not only to reduce costs, but also to ensure standardization and high-quality care.