Regional variations in test requiring patterns of general practitioners in Spain

  • María Salinas Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Alicante, Spain
  • Maite López-Garrigós Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Alicante, Spain
  • Julián Díaz Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Francesc Borja, Gandía, Valencia, Spain
  • Mario Ortuño Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital de la Ribera, Alzira, Valencia, Spain
  • Martin Yago Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital de Requena, Valencia, Spain
  • Begoña Laíz Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
  • Arturo Carratala Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valencia, Spain
  • Virtudes Chinchilla Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Spain
  • Goizane Marcaida Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain
  • Enrique Rodriguez-Borja Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Clinico Universitario, Valencia, Spain
  • Angel Esteban Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, Spain
  • Marcos Guaita Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, Spain
  • Cristina Aguado Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain
  • Miguel A. Lorente Department of Information Systems, Roche Diagnostics, Valencia, Spain
  • Emilio Flores Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Alicante, Spain
  • Joaquín Uris Department of Public Health, University of Alicante, Spain
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/03009734.2011.606927
Keywords: Appropriateness, clinical chemistry, health care costs, laboratory test utilization, quality indicators

Abstract

Objective. To analyze the requesting patterns for a range of laboratory tests ordered in 2009 from eight laboratories providing services to eight health areas, using appropriate indicators.

Design. Indicators measured every test request per 1,000 inhabitants, and indicators that measured the number of tests per related test requested by general practitioners were calculated. The savings generated, if each Health Care Department achieved the appropriate indicator standard, were also calculated. Laboratory Information System registers were collected, and indicators were calculated automatically in each laboratory using a data warehouse application.

Results. There was a large difference in demand for tests by health areas. The ratio of related tests also showed a great variability. The savings generated if each Health Care Department had achieved the appropriate indicator standard were €172,116 for free thyroxine, €18,289 for aspartate aminotransferase, and €62,678 for urea.

Conclusions. Considerable variability exists in general practitioners' demand for laboratory tests.

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Published
2011-11-09
How to Cite
Salinas M., López-Garrigós M., Díaz J., Ortuño M., Yago M., Laíz B., Carratala A., Chinchilla V., Marcaida G., Rodriguez-Borja E., Esteban A., Guaita M., Aguado C., Lorente M. A., Flores E., & Uris J. (2011). Regional variations in test requiring patterns of general practitioners in Spain. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 116(4), 247–251. https://doi.org/10.3109/03009734.2011.606927
Issue
Vol. 116 No. 4 (2011): Upsala J Med Sci
Section
Original Articles

Authors retain copyright of their work, with first publication rights granted to Upsala Medical Society. Read the full Copyright- and Licensing Statement.

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