Inappropriate laboratory test utilization in outpatient tertiary care: Implications for value-based healthcare.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the rate of inappropriate repetition of laboratory testing and estimate the cost of such testing for thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), total cholesterol, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 tests. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out in the Family Medicine and Polyclinic Department at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Clinical and laboratory data were collected between 2018-2021 for the 4 laboratory tests. The inappropriate repetition of tests was defined according to international guidelines and the costs were calculated using the hospital prices. RESULTS: A total of 109,929 laboratory tests carried out on 23,280 patients were included in this study. The percentage of inappropriate tests, as per the study criteria, was estimated to be 6.1% of all repeated tests. Additionally, the estimated total cost wasted amounted to 2,364,410 Saudi Riyals. Age exhibited a weak positive correlation with the total number of inappropriate tests (r=0.196, p=0.001). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in the medians of the total number of inappropriate tests among genders and nationalities (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The study identified significantly high rates of inadequate repetitions of frequently requested laboratory tests. Urgent action is therefore crucial to overcoming such an issue.

Appropriateness of lumbar spine radiography and factors influencing imaging ordering patterns: paving the path toward value-driven health care.

The demand for diagnostic imaging continues to rise. Against the backdrop of rising health care costs and finite resources, this has prompted a paradigm shift toward value-driven patient care. Inappropriate imaging is a barrier toward achieving this goal, which runs counter to prevailing evidence-based guidelines and contributes to rising healthcare costs. Our objective was to evaluate the appropriateness of lumbar spine X-rays in a tertiary referral Emergency Department (ED) and assess whether physicians' specialization and years of experience influence appropriateness. A total of 1030 lumbar spine radiographs performed in the ED of an academic medical center over a consecutive 3-month period were reviewed retrospectively. Referral indications were reviewed for adherence to 2021 American College of Radiology appropriateness guidelines for lower back pain, and referral patterns were evaluated among physician groups based on specialists' training and years in practice. 63.8% of lumbar spine radiographs were appropriate, with trauma being the most common indication. 36.2% of orders were inappropriate, with lower back pain of <6 weeks duration being the most common indication. Significant differences in inappropriate orders were found (P < .001) across physician groups: qualified Emergency Medicine specialists (20.9% inappropriate orders), specialists in training (27.8%), and non-specialists with ≥3 (60.0%) and <3 (36.9%) years in practice, respectively. Approximately one-third of lumbar spine radiographs performed in the ED were inappropriately ordered by American College of Radiology guidelines; specialists training and years in practice affected referral patterns. Integrating evidence-based appropriateness guidelines into the physician order workflow and targeting older non-specialists may promote more judicious imaging and reduce health care costs.

Choosing Wisely® in Japanese Emergency Medicine: Nine Recommendations to Improve The Value of Health Care.

BACKGROUND: The overuse of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities has become an issue in the field of emergency medicine. The health care system of Japan aims to provide the most appropriate quality and quantity of care at the right price, while focusing on patient value. The Choosing Wisely® campaign was launched in Japan and other countries. OBJECTIVE: In this article, recommendations were discussed to improve the field of emergency medicine based on the state of the Japanese health care system. METHODS: The modified Delphi method, a consensus-building method, was used in this study. The final recommendations were developed by a working group of 20 medical professionals, students, and patients, consisting of members of the emergency physician electronic mailing list. RESULTS: From the 80 candidates recommended and excessive actions gathered, nine recommendations were formulated after two Delphi rounds. The recommendations included the suppression of excessive behavior and the implementation of appropriate medical treatment, like rapid pain relief and the application of ultrasonography during central venous catheter placement. CONCLUSIONS: This study formulated recommendations to improve the field of Japanese emergency medicine, based on the feedback of patients and health care professionals. The nine recommendations will be helpful for all people involved in emergency care in Japan because they have the potential to prevent the overuse of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, while maintaining the appropriate quality of patient care.

Cost analysis of reflexive versus selective molecular testing for indeterminate thyroid nodules.

BACKGROUND: Molecular testing is now commonly used to refine the diagnosis of indeterminate thyroid nodules. The purpose of this study is to compare the costs of a reflexive molecular testing strategy to a selective testing strategy for indeterminate thyroid nodules. METHODS: A Markov model was constructed to estimate the annual cost of diagnosis and treatment of a real-world cohort of patients with cytologically indeterminate thyroid nodules, comparing a reflexive testing strategy to a selective testing strategy. Model variables were abstracted from institutional clinical trial data, literature review, and the Medicare physician fee schedule. RESULTS: The average cost per patient in the reflexive testing strategy was $8,045, compared with $6,090 in the selective testing strategy. In 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations, diagnostic thyroid lobectomy for benign nodules was performed in 2,440 patients in the reflexive testing arm, compared with 3,389 patients in the selective testing arm, and unintentional observation for malignant nodules occurred in 479 patients in the reflexive testing arm, compared with 772 patients in the selective testing arm. The cost of molecular testing had the greatest impact on overall costs, with $1,050 representing the cost below which the reflexive testing strategy was cost saving compared with the selective testing strategy. CONCLUSION: In this cost-modeling study, reflexive molecular testing for indeterminate thyroid nodules enabled patients to avoid unnecessary thyroid lobectomy at an estimated cost of $20,600 per surgery avoided.

An Initiative to Decrease Laboratory Testing in a NICU.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laboratory testing is performed frequently in the NICU. Unnecessary tests can result in increased costs, blood loss, and pain, which can increase the risk of long-term growth and neurodevelopmental impairment. Our aim was to decrease routine screening laboratory testing in all infants admitted to our NICU by 20% over a 24-month period. METHODS: We designed and implemented a multifaceted quality improvement project using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's Model for Improvement. Baseline data were reviewed and analyzed to prioritize order of interventions. The primary outcome measure was number of laboratory tests performed per 1000 patient days. Secondary outcome measures included number of blood glucose and serum bilirubin tests per 1000 patient days, blood volume removed per 1000 patient days, and cost. Extreme laboratory values were tracked and reviewed as balancing measures. Statistical process control charts were used to track measures over time. RESULTS: Over a 24-month period, we achieved a 26.8% decrease in laboratory tests performed per 1000 patient days (∽51 000 fewer tests). We observed significant decreases in all secondary measures, including a decrease of almost 8 L of blood drawn and a savings of $258 000. No extreme laboratory values were deemed attributable to the interventions. Improvement was sustained for an additional 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions, including guideline development, dashboard creation and distribution, electronic medical record optimization, and expansion of noninvasive and point-of-care testing resulted in a significant and sustained reduction in laboratory testing without notable adverse effects.

Haemoglobin and transfusions in elderly patients with hip fractures: the effect of a dedicated orthogeriatrician.

BACKGROUND: Hip fractures are common in elderly patients, in whom it is important to monitor blood loss; however, unnecessary transfusions should be avoided. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether the employment of a dedicated orthogeriatrician in an Orthopaedic Department allows to optimise the clinical conditions of patients, influencing blood loss and consequently the number of transfusions. The secondary objective was to determine whether the influence of the orthogeriatrician differs according to the type of surgical treatment. METHODS: A total of 620 elderly patients treated for hip fracture were included in the study. These patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or not of the orthogeriatrician. For each patient, age, sex, comorbidities, type of fracture, surgical treatment, length of hospital stay, time from hospitalisation and surgery, time from surgery to discharge, haemoglobin (Hb) values (admission, 24h post-surgery, lowest Hb reached, discharge) and the number of transfusions were recorded. RESULTS: Regardless of the surgical procedure performed, in patients managed by the orthogeriatrician, the Hb at discharge was significantly higher (p = 0.003). In addition to the highest Hb at discharge, in patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty, the number of transfusions per patient is significantly reduced (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The introduction of the orthogeriatrician in an orthopaedic ward for the management of elderly patients treated for hip fracture allows to discharge the patients with higher Hb values, reducing the risk of anemisation and the costs related to possible re-admission.

Routine T4 No More? Reducing Excess Thyroid Hormone Testing at a Pediatric Tertiary Care Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To promote resource stewardship in thyroid hormone testing at a pediatric tertiary care hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Quality improvement approaches generated 3 change ideas that were implemented simultaneously in the hospital electronic medical record: (1) a reflex free thyroxine (fT4), whereby fT4 is automatically reported if the thyroid-stimulating hormone is outside the normal range; (2) a forced-function for thyroid hormone ordering, whereby a provider must select an appropriate indication for ordering fT4 or triiodothyronine (T3); and (3) a clinical decision support message displayed at the time of ordering thyroid function tests. Laboratory data were audited to determine the mean number of fT4 and T3 tests performed per week as well as indications for testing. RESULTS: The mean number of fT4 and T3 tests processed per week decreased from 154 ± 21 and 11 ± 7, respectively, in the preintervention period, to 107 ± 12 (30% reduction) and 4 ± 3 (66% reduction) postintervention. These reductions were sustained for the full 20-week assessment period. Process and balancing measures revealed no unintended adverse consequences. Approximate cost savings were $43 000 per year. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the successful implementation of electronic medical record-based interventions (reflex fT4, forced-function selection of indication, decision support text) leading to sustained improvements in healthcare use, with significant associated cost-savings.

The fine line of defensive medicine.

Defensive medicine is a practice that has been utilized by clinicians in efforts of preventing patient dissatisfaction and malpractice claims and may be done through either omission or commission. As much as 57% of physicians have disclosed that they practice defensive medicine. However, this practice does not necessarily prevent malpractice claims and more importantly, neither does it equate to good medical practice, with some leading to poor outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a high percentage of malpractice claims lodged against clinicians in both primary care and hospital settings. Specialists such as surgeons, obstetricians, and gynecologists face the highest claims. In particular, during the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, with new challenges and limited treatment algorithms, there is an even greater concern for possible bourgeoning claims. Counteracting defensive medicine can be accomplished through decriminalizing malpractice claims, leaving physician oversight up to state medical boards and hospital claims management committees. Additional tort reform measures must also be taken such as caps on noneconomic damages to ensure emphasis on beneficence and nonmaleficence. Once these are in place, it may well serve to increase clinician-patient trust and improve patient independence in the shared decision-making process of their treatment, allowing clinicians to practice their full scope of practice without feeling wary of potential malpractice claims.

Contralateral exploration and repair of occult inguinal hernias during laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: systematic review and Markov decision process.

BACKGROUND: Contralateral clinically occult hernias are frequently noted at the time of laparoscopic unilateral inguinal hernia repair. There is no consensus on the role of contralateral exploration and repair. This systematic review assessed the safety and efficacy of operative repair of occult contralateral inguinal hernias found during unilateral repair. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to February 2020. Adults diagnosed with a unilateral inguinal hernia undergoing laparoscopic repair were included. The primary outcome was the incidence of occult contralateral hernias. Summative outcomes of operative and expectant management were reported along with development of a Markov decision process. RESULTS: Thirteen studies (1 randomized trial, 12 observational cohorts) with 5000 patients were included. The incidence of occult contralateral inguinal hernias was 14.6 (range 7.3-50.1) per cent. Among patients who underwent repair, 10.5 (4.3-17.0) per cent experienced a postoperative complication. Of patients managed expectantly, 29 per cent later required elective repair for symptoms. Mean follow-up was 36 (range 2-218) months. Using a Markov decision process, it was calculated that, for every 1000 patients undergoing unilateral inguinal hernia repair, contralateral exploration would identify 150 patients with an occult hernia. Repair would result in 15 patients developing a postoperative complication and 105 undergoing unnecessary repair. Alternatively, expectant management would result in 45 patients requiring subsequent repair. CONCLUSION: Contralateral repair is not warranted in patients with occult hernias diagnosed at the time of elective hernia repair. The evidence is largely based on observational studies at high risk of bias.

Low-Value Diagnostic Imaging in Children with Medicaid.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate rates and settings of low-value imaging among pediatric Medicaid beneficiaries and estimate the associated expenditures. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study from 2014 to 2016 of children <18 years enrolled in Pennsylvania Medicaid. Outcomes were rates of low-value imaging for 5 conditions identified by diagnosis codes, healthcare settings of imaging performance, and cost based on paid amounts. RESULTS: Of the 645 767 encounters for the 5 conditions, there were 37 525 (5.8%) low-value imaging services. Per 1000 encounters, there were 246.0 radiographs for bronchiolitis, 174.0 head computed tomography (CT) studies for minor head trauma, 155.0 and 33.3 neuroimaging studies for headache and simple febrile seizure, respectively, and 19.5 abdominal CT scans (without prior ultrasound examination) for abdominal pain. Rates of low-value imaging were highest in non-Hispanic White children and those in rural areas. In adjusted analysis, non-Hispanic White children were more likely to receive a CT scan for abdominal pain, and Black children were more likely to have imaging for bronchiolitis and minor head trauma. For individual conditions, up to 87.9% of low-value imaging (CT scan for minor head trauma) was in the emergency department (ED), with most imaging across all conditions occurring in nonpediatric EDs, up to 42.2% was in the outpatient setting (neuroimaging for headache), and up to 20.7% was during inpatient encounters (neuroimaging for febrile seizure). Outpatient and ED low-value imaging resulted in more than $7 million in Medicaid expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: Among the studied conditions, more than 1 in 20 encounters included low-value imaging, mostly in nonpediatric EDs and for bronchiolitis, head trauma, and headache. Interventions are needed to decrease the future performance of these low-value services.

Is a chest radiograph indicated after chest tube removal in trauma patients? A systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the necessity of routine chest radiographs after chest tube removal in ventilated and nonventilated trauma patients. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and CINAHL on May 15, 2020. Quality assessment was performed using the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies criteria. Primary outcome measures were abnormalities on postremoval chest radiograph (e.g., recurrence of a pneumothorax, hemothorax, pleural effusion) and reintervention after chest tube removal. Secondary outcome measures were emergence of new clinical symptoms or vital signs after chest tube removal. RESULTS: Fourteen studies were included, consisting of seven studies on nonventilated patients and seven studies on combined cohorts of ventilated and nonventilated patients, all together containing 1,855 patients. Nonventilated patients had abnormalities on postremoval chest radiograph in 10% (range across studies, 0-38%) of all chest tubes and 24% (range, 0-78%) of those underwent reintervention. In the studies that reported on clinical symptoms after chest tube removal, all patients who underwent reintervention also had symptoms of recurrent pathology. Combined cohorts of ventilated and nonventilated patients had abnormalities on postremoval chest radiograph in 20% (range, 6-49%) of all chest tubes and 45% (range, 8-63%) of those underwent reintervention. CONCLUSION: In nonventilated patients, one in ten developed recurrent pathology after chest tube removal and almost a quarter of them underwent reintervention. In two studies that reported on clinical symptoms, all reinterventions were performed in patients with symptoms of recurrent pathology. In these two studies, omission of routine postremoval chest radiograph seemed safe. However, current literature remains insufficient to draw definitive conclusions on this matter, and future studies are needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Systematic review study, level IV.

Inappropriate screening of obstructive coronary artery disease during pre-anesthesia assessment of candidates for non-cardiac surgery.

Preoperative evaluation in elective surgeries has been associated with successful surgical treatment. However, there is no solid scientific evidence that screening for coronary artery disease (CAD) reduces surgical risk. The aims of this study were to describe the frequency of inappropriate investigation of obstructive CAD induced by pre-anesthetic assessment in individuals without cardiovascular symptoms (candidates for low- to intermediate-risk surgeries) and to evaluate predictors of this conduct. We performed a retrospective evaluation of medical records of anesthesiology services from patients undergoing pre-anesthesia assessment between May 2015 and May 2016, including those with functional capacity ≥4 metabolic equivalents without a diagnosis of heart disease. A total of 778 medical records (47±16 years of age, 62.6% female) were studied. A private hospital performed 50.1% of the surgeries and 60.4% were of intermediate risk. Only 2.7% (95%CI: 1.7-4.1%) were screened for CAD, and 91% of these requests were mediated by cardiology consultations performed during pre-anesthetic testing visits. Factors associated with screening for CAD were hypertension, diabetes, moderate systemic disease (ASA III), cardiac consultation, previous diagnosis of CAD, and admission to a private hospital. Independent predictors were private hospitals (OR: 3.9; 95%CI: 1.3-11.0), ASA III (OR: 5.3; 95%CI: 1.7-16.2), and hypertension (OR: 3.8; 95%CI: 1.5-9.8). The frequency of inappropriate requests for CAD screening in asymptomatic individuals without untreated systemic diseases was low in pre-anesthetic visits. Although infrequent, screening for CAD is more common in the private setting, in patients with poorer health status, and is usually prescribed during cardiology consultation.

Overcoming Overuse Part 4: Small Business Survival.

SUMMARY: The challenge of overuse raises important questions for those in the business of musculoskeletal health care. What is the right number of physical therapy visits for a given condition? Can a practice provide "less" but still be profitable? In this, the editorial on overcoming overuse of musculoskeletal health care, we consider the economic drivers of overuse in the private sector. We propose actions that could support small business leaders to overcome overuse and build profitable, high-quality services. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2021;51(1):1-4. doi:10.2519/jospt.2021.0101.

Choosing wisely in emergency medicine: Early results and insights from the ACEP emergency quality network (E-QUAL).

PURPOSE: To characterize performance among ED sites participating in the Emergency Quality Network (E-QUAL) Avoidable Imaging Initiative for clinical targets on the American College of Emergency Physicians Choosing Wisely list. METHODS: This was an observational study of quality improvement (QI) data collected from hospital-based ED sites in 2017-2018. Participating EDs reported imaging utilization rates (UR) and common QI practices for three Choosing Wisely targets: Atraumatic Low Back Pain, Syncope, or Minor Head Injury. RESULTS: 305 ED sites participated in the initiative. Among all ED sites, the mean imaging UR for Atraumatic Low Back Pain was 34.7% (IQR 26.3%-42.6%) for XR, 19.1% (IQR 11.4%-24.9%) for CT, and 0.09% (IQR 0%-0.9%) for MRI. The mean CT UR for Syncope was 50.0% (IQR 38.0%-61.4%). The mean CT UR for Minor Head Injury was 72.6% (IQR 65.6%-81.7%). ED sites with sustained participation showed significant decreases in CT UR in 2017 compared to 2018 for Syncope (56.4% vs 48.0%; 95% CI: -12.7%, -4.1%) and Minor Head Injury (76.3% vs 72.1%; 95% CI: -7.3%, -1.1%). There was no significant change in imaging UR for Atraumatic Back Pain for XR (36.0% vs 33.3%; 95% CI: -5.9%, -0;5%), CT (20.1% vs 17.7%; 95% CI: -5.1%, -0.4%) or MRI (0.8% vs 0.7%, 95% CI: -0.4%, -0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Early data from the E-QUAL Avoidable Imaging Initiative suggests QI interventions could potentially improve imaging stewardship and reduce low-value care. Further efforts to translate the Choosing Wisely recommendations into practice should promote data-driven benchmarking and learning collaboratives to achieve sustained practice improvement.