Cost-efficiency of laboratory testing among psychiatric inpatients.

BACKGROUND: A set of tests to rule out medical conditions among psychiatric inpatients is still to be defined. A first step in this direction is to determine the utility of lab tests commonly used by psychiatrists. METHODS: Biochemical tests have been routinely performed on inpatients in a psychiatric hospitalization unit from 2006 to 2009. This study examines the prevalence of abnormal values in 1,278 laboratory tests performed on 894 patients. The number of subjects screened and the direct expenditure needed to find results outside the normal range were computed. Differences in clinical profiles were compared between diagnostic groups according to main diagnosis. RESULTS: We found high rates of seropositive patients for human immunodeficiency virus (14.3%) and hepatitis B virus (15.7%). Most patients met at least one criteria of metabolic syndrome (67.6%). The detection of hepatic abnormalities was very efficient (65.71%), particularly for patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-efficiency of lab tests in psychiatric units is greatly variable. Though results of this study may not be generalized due to the different prevalence of medical conditions, the methodology can be easily implemented across psychiatric services. Cost-effectiveness and costbenefit analyses are warranted.

[Electronic calendar as an organization element in Internal Medicine services]. / Los calendarios electrónicos como herramientas de organización de los servicios de Medicina Interna.

The growing volume of information and introduction of new technologies in the Internal Medicine hospital department mare making the traditional updating «methods¼ of knowledge and organization obsolete. The development of new tools could help the management of information and organization of the medical departments is outdated. Electronic calendar such as the Google calendar facilitate adequate coordination among health care professionals. Our experience suggests that the Google calendar is a simple and useful tool that helps planning and organization of the clinical, educational, and research activities of the different medical departments, limits loss of information and improves efficacy with a close to zero cost of infrastructure.

Los calendarios electrónicos como herramientas de organización de los servicios de Medicina Interna / Electronic calendars as an organization element in Internal Medicine services

El volumen creciente de información y la introducción de las nuevas tecnologías en los servicios hospitalarios de Medicina Interna hacen que los «métodos» tradicionales de actualización de conocimientos y organización se hayan quedado obsoletos. El desarrollo de nuevas herramientas podría ayudar en la gestión de la información y organización de los servicios médicos. Los calendarios electrónicos como el Google calendar facilitan la coordinación de los profesionales de la salud. Nuestra experiencia sugiere que Google calendar es una herramienta que facilita la organización de la actividad asistencial, docente y de investigación de los servicios médicos, limita la pérdida de información, y mejora su eficiencia con un coste de infraestructura prácticamente nulo(AU)

The growing volume of information and introduction of new technologies in the Internal Medicine hospital department mare making the traditional updating «methods» of knowledge and organization obsolete. The development of new tools could help the management of information and organization of the medical departments is outdated. Electronic calendars such as the Google calendar facilitate adequate coordination among health care professionals. Our experience suggests that the Google calendar·is a simple and useful tool that helps planning and organization of the clinical, educational, and research activities of the different medical departments, limits loss of information and improves efficacy with a close to zero cost of infrastructure(AU)