Accumen Products
- • Lab Test Menu Assessment
Introduction
Laboratory test menu assessment plays a crucial role in modern healthcare, contributing to cost-effective healthcare delivery and streamlined operations. This assessment involves evaluating the relevance, accuracy, and efficiency of the tests offered.
Benefits of a Lab Test Menu Assessment:
- Streamlined Operations and Efficiency
- Cost-Effective
- Latest Diagnostic Methodologies & Standards
- Reduced Reagent & Supply Wastage
Why a Test Menu Assessment Matters
An updated test menu aids healthcare professionals in making informed clinical decisions through inclusion of the latest diagnostic technologies and methodologies that align with current medical standards.
Laboratory test menu assessment also enhances operational efficiencies by identifying redundant tests or outdated methodologies, allowing laboratories to optimize workflow and resource utilization, and by highlighting tests with very low volume that can result in reagent and supply wastage.
Our Approach
Accumen executes a comprehensive assessment of a healthcare system, or individual facility, test menu and highlights those tests that could be outsourced to a system’s Core laboratory or Center of Excellence. This results in cost savings without negatively impacting patient care. For some esoteric or low volume testing, it is recommended that the hospital’s outsourcing is to a commercial reference laboratory, which is sometimes the best option for standardization and cost effectiveness.
Using Accumen’s data analytics, monthly or annual test volume is evaluated. When assessing a healthcare system, geographic proximity of individuation hospitals is also considered in recommendations for consolidation to a Core lab or Center of Excellence. Lastly, careful consideration is given to the downstream impact on patient care as well as overall healthcare expenditures to identify opportunities for cost savings without compromising clinical efficacy.
Things to Consider:
- Volumes over time
- Geography
- Impact on patient care
- Financial expense
Test Menu Assessment Examples
Example 1:
Single Hospital within a Larger Health System
One example of a test menu assessment conducted by Accumen was for a single hospital site within a large healthcare system. The client specifically requested an assessment of testing on chemistry platforms to support decisions on possible new equipment purchases and possible facility renovations. During the assessment, test menus from other hospitals within the system were evaluated. The team identified opportunities for non-critical tests to be sent to other Core labs with higher volumes, thus utilizing economies of scale. These tests were of minimal volume and therefore the costs of daily calibrations exceeded the revenue generated. Other esoteric tests with high reagent costs and no urgent turnaround time requirements were also identified as candidates – in this case to be sent to commercial reference labs. Again this reduces the cost of reagents and QC for the smaller hospital site. These recommended changes, when implemented, would allow for the facility to choose new equipment of an appropriate size for the site volumes, and to avoid any facility renovations.
Example 2:
Multiple Hospitals within a Larger Health System
Another example test menu assessment was performed at the same large healthcare system, this time assessing multiple facilities in a larger geographic area. Accumen started with grouping the locations geographically into regions so that transfer of testing could be evaluated utilizing existing courier routes. Three Core laboratories were identified with the potential for Centers of Excellence in the future.
Similar to the single-site assessment, the test menus of all hospitals were evaluated to consider the opportunity for non-critical testing to be consolidated. The assessment also included an evaluation of reference laboratories used across the system for the opportunity to standardize send-out testing with optimized contract pricing. Among the identified changes, one location had changes to their volumes over time that had not been considered by laboratory leadership due to the gradual rate of change. This is an example of why test menu assessments should be conducted periodically.
Lastly, assessments also ensure that older technology or changes to patient demographics don’t result in wastage in the laboratory.
Final Thoughts
Once necessary changes are identified, changes should be implemented gradually and with consideration to the clinical providers that utilize the tests. Change management is necessary to ensure solid communication plans so that patient care is not interrupted. Often, a phased approach can minimize disruptions and facilitate a smooth transition. Accumen’s experienced Laboratory Operations team will perform a full assessment of test menus, supporting a strategic initiative for healthcare instructions seeking to enhance the quality of clinical services, patient care, and operational efficiency.
Test menus should be regularly reviewed, incorporating feedback from both clinical and laboratory staff, assessing new technologies and adjusting as needed. This ensures that the laboratory remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving landscape of healthcare.
About Accumen:
Accumen’s team of highly experienced subject matter experts (SMEs) are ready to create and recommend solutions to begin improving operations in your laboratory. Our methods, processes, and tools are designed to retain staff in a tight labor market, reduce costs, increase revenue, improve processes, and increase patient safety and satisfaction. Some recommendations are department-specific, while many apply broadly to lab management as a whole.