Impact of laboratory test use strategies in a Turkish hospital

Objectives: Eliminating unnecessary laboratory tests is a good way to reduce costs while maintain patient safety. The aim of this study was to define and process strategies to rationalize laboratory use in Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital (ANH) and calculate potential savings in costs. Methods: A collaborative plan was defined by hospital managers; joint meetings with ANHTA and laboratory professors were set; the joint committee invited relevant staff for input, and a laboratory efficiency committee was created. Literature was reviewed systematically to identify strategies used to improve laboratory efficiency. Strategies that would be applicable in local settings were identified for implementation, processed, and the impact on clinical use and costs assessed for 12 months. Results: Laboratory use in ANH differed enormously among clinics. Major use was identified in internal medicine. The mean number of tests per patient was 15.8. Unnecessary testing for chloride, folic acid, free prostate specific antigen, hepatitis and HIV testing were observed. Test panel use was pinpointed as the main cause of overuse of the laboratory and the Hospital Information System test ordering page was reorganized. A significant decrease (between 12.6-85.0%) was observed for the tests that were taken to an alternative page on the computer screen. The one year study saving was equivalent to 371,183 US dollars. Conclusion: Hospital-based committees including laboratory professionals and clinicians can define hospital based problems and led to a standardized approach to test use that can help clinicians reduce laboratory costs through appropriate use of laboratory test

Lateral-horizontal patient position and horizontal orientation of the endotracheal tube to prevent aspiration in adult surgical intensive care unit patients : a feasibility study

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that during mechanical ventilation the lateral-horizontal patient position (in which the endotracheal tube is horizontal) decreases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, compared to the recommended semi-recumbent position (in which the endotracheal tube slopes downward into the trachea). We tested the feasibility of the lateral-horizontal patient position, measured the incidence of aspiration of gastric contents, and watched for any adverse effects related to the lateral-horizontal position. METHODS: Ten adult intensive care unit patients were ventilated for 64 hours in the standard semi-recumbent position, and ten for 12 24 hours in the lateral-horizontal position. Tracheal secretions were collected every 8 hours and every 4 hours, respectively, and tested for pepsin, which is a marker of gastric contents. We also recorded clinical, physiologic, and outcome variables. RESULTS: The patients remained stable during ventilation in the lateral-horizontal position, and no adverse events occurred. Pepsin was detected in the trachea of 7 semi-recumbent patients and in five of the lateral-horizontal patients (P = .32). The number of ventilator-free days was 8 days (range 0-21 days) in the semi-recumbent patients, versus 24 days (range 12-25 days) in the lateral-horizontal patients (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Implementing the lateral-horizontal position for 12-24 hours in adult intubated intensive care unit patients is feasible, and our patients had no adverse events. The incidence of aspiration of gastric contents in the lateral-horizontal position seems to be similar to that in the semi-recumbent position