How to Improve Patient Outcomes Through Data-Driven Test and Blood Utilization

In today's healthcare landscape, the effective utilization of diagnostic medicine and laboratory testing plays a crucial role in improving patient outcomes. By connecting clinical expertise and data insights to these essential aspects of care, we can make significant strides in enhancing patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency. This blog post will explore the importance of laboratory stewardship, patient blood management, anemia management, and data-driven decision-making in achieving these goals.

Laboratory Stewardship: Optimizing Test Utilization

Laboratory stewardship focuses on improving the appropriateness and efficiency of laboratory testing. Optimizing test utilization reduces costs, minimizes patient harm, and enhances the overall quality of care. Dr. Andrew Fletcher, hc1 Medical Director, Lab Stewardship, emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to laboratory stewardship, including data analysis, education, and collaboration with physicians.

“Laboratory stewardship really started looking at the cost of laboratory testing, but very much we quickly got into how is this cost, how does this testing impact patient care and all the downstream impacts from there.” –Dr. Andrew Fletcher

One of the key challenges in laboratory stewardship is addressing the issue of test overutilization. Studies have shown that 20% of laboratory tests are either redundant or unnecessary, leading to increased costs and potential patient harm. Dr. Fletcher highlights the importance of having access to both LIS data and corresponding EMR data to understand the clinical context of test orders and identify areas for improvement. 

In addition to overutilization, underutilization of testing can also have significant implications for patient care. Delays in diagnosis due to missing or delayed tests can lead to adverse outcomes and increased healthcare costs. Therefore, laboratory stewardship programs must focus on both controlling overutilization and ensuring appropriate test utilization.  

Patient Blood Management: Enhancing Patient Safety and Outcomes

Patient blood management (PBM) is a multidisciplinary approach that aims to optimize the care of patients who might need a blood transfusion. By implementing PBM programs, healthcare institutions can improve patient safety, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance patient outcomes.

“If we are doing something that is avoidable or inappropriate, we are doing the wrong thing for patients. This has an immense cost, most importantly to the patient, but financially and economically as well.” –Sherri Ozawa, MSN, RN, Director, Clinical Operations and Delivery, cPBM

One of the primary goals of PBM is to reduce unnecessary blood transfusions. Studies have shown that 30-40% of all blood transfusions are overutilized or avoidable, leading to increased risks for patients and higher healthcare costs. By promoting the appropriate use of blood products, PBM programs can minimize the potential for transfusion-related complications and improve patient outcomes.

Anemia Management: Proactive Patient Care

Anemia management is a critical component of minimizing avoidable transfusions. Anemia, a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, can have significant implications for patient health and well-being.

“Anemia has been perceived as this innocent bystander. We know now from the abundance of medical literature that anemia is a significant risk factor for bad outcomes and quality of life. Its impact on the individual, family, community, and economy is huge.” –Sherri Ozawa, MSN, RN

Anemia management programs focus on identifying and treating anemia preoperatively to reduce the need for blood transfusions during and after surgery. By effectively managing anemia, healthcare providers can improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall quality of care.

Data-Driven Decision-Making: The Key to Improvement

Data-driven decision-making is essential for laboratory stewardship, patient blood management, and anemia management. By collecting, analyzing, and interpreting relevant data, healthcare providers can gain valuable insights into practice patterns, identify areas for improvement, and track the impact of interventions.

“Data is very important because, as physicians, we are trained to tear apart data. That is what we do. They teach us in medical school to read a journal article, tear it apart, and find all the weaknesses. So you have to have really solid data to convince a physician that something needs to change.” –Dr. Andrew Fletcher

hc1 software solutions, such as PrecisionDx Advisor and Blood Health Insights, provide real-time data and analytics to support data-driven decision-making in healthcare. These tools enable healthcare providers to benchmark their performance against peers, track patient outcomes, and identify opportunities for improvement. By leveraging data-driven insights, healthcare institutions can optimize laboratory test utilization, reduce unnecessary blood transfusions, and enhance the overall quality of patient care.

Through the effective utilization of data-driven insights, healthcare systems can ensure that patients receive the right care at the right time, leading to better outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system. To learn more about hc1’s suite of Clinical Excellence solutions, watch our recent webinar on-demand.