Test Utilization: Are You Driving the Bus, Chased by the Bus, or Under It?

This presentation provides an examination of how one laboratory reviews their test ordering patterns with information readily at hand while leveraging expert assistance to improve test utilization.

Lecture Presenter
Debbi Tiffany, MSED, MLS(ASCP)CM SCCM SLSCM
Debbi Tiffany, MSED, MLS(ASCP)CM SCCM SLSCM
Director of Laboratory Services, Swedish American Health System, Rockford, Illinois
Assistant Vice President, Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL), ARUP Laboratories

Debbi Tiffany obtained her BS in Medical Technology from Illinois State University and a Master of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University. Ms. Tiffany is certified by ASCP as a medical laboratory scientist as well as a specialist in Chemistry and Laboratory Safety. She has served the profession as the chair of the Chemistry Examination Committee for ASCP and as chair of the NAACLS Standards Revision task force. Ms. Tiffany has been an instructor of Diagnostic Biochemistry at NIU and is a well-known speaker in the area of point of care testing, laboratory/nursing interaction, and is a passionate advocate for the value of laboratory testing in healthcare.

Objectives

After this presentation, participants will be able to:

Describe the use of laboratory generated data to examine test utilization.
Describe the use of reference laboratory or outside agency data to examine test utilization.
Apply examples used in the presentation to evaluate your laboratory’s test utilization.
Identify 2 specific tests to be evaluated in your own laboratory.