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Utilization Management in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

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Utilization Management in the Clinical Laboratory and Other Ancillary Services

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Abstract

The literature on utilization management in microbiology is relatively limited, in comparison to published studies related to testing performed in the core laboratory (chemistry and hematology). Most previously published studies have targeted reductions in routine cultures, which are labor intensive and therefore costly. In recent years, the menu of available tests in microbiology has significantly increased, especially with regard to molecular diagnostic assays for infectious organisms. Clinicians often have a poor understanding of the performance characteristics of these tests and their clinical indications. The expansion in the test menu, combined with a growing physician “knowledge gap,” has created a number of new opportunities for utilization management in microbiology. This chapter will review the literature and describe various published and unpublished utilization management initiatives from our institution.

Portions of this chapter were abstracted from Branda J, Lewandrowski K. Utilization management in microbiology. Clin Chim Acta. 2014;427:173–7 with permission.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Kent Lewandrowski

  2. Department of Pathology, Gray 5 Chemistry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Eric S. Rosenberg & John A. Branda

Authors
  1. Kent Lewandrowski
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  2. Eric S. Rosenberg
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  3. John A. Branda
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Correspondence to Kent Lewandrowski .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Laboratory Medicine Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Kent Lewandrowski

  2. Pathology Service Core Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Patrick M. Sluss

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Lewandrowski, K., Rosenberg, E.S., Branda, J.A. (2017). Utilization Management in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory. In: Lewandrowski, K., Sluss, P. (eds) Utilization Management in the Clinical Laboratory and Other Ancillary Services. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34199-6_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-34199-6_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-34197-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-34199-6

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