Evaluation of Appropriateness of STAT Tests.
- Author:
Min Kwon JUNG
1
;
Hee Sun JEON
;
Yun Sik KWAK
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
STAT test;
Appropriateness
- MeSH:
Emergencies;
Emergency Service, Hospital;
Humans;
Outpatients;
Tertiary Healthcare
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Pathology
1998;18(3):487-493
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Apart from devaluing the basic skills of history taking and clinical examinations, the indiscriminate use of STAT tests is increasing in hospital practice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the appropriateness of the STAT test requests in a tertiary care teaching university hospital. METHODS: We assessed the reasons for the STAT test requests on 644 patients (inpatients 338, emergency room patients 215, and outpatients 91), totaling 1,681 requests, during a 2 week period (between August 8 to 22, 1996) by discussing with the clinicians and nurses and/or reviewing the patient's records. RESULTS: Of 1,681 requests, 779 (46.3%) were considered inappropriate according to the criteria used to define categories. Inappropriate requests were detected in 45.1% (265/588) in wards, 49.0% (446/910) in the emergency room, and 37.2% (68/183) in the out patient department. The frequency of requests during the day showed two peaks: the first between 10 and 11 a.m., and the second between 3 and 4 p.m., which appears to indicate that the STAT tests are often requested for the convenience of the physician rather than true need of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Many STAT tests are requested for reasons other than true emergencies. Inconsiderate, wasteful, and disruptive STAT test requests imposed an extra burden on the laboratory and resulted in a delay of reports on other true STAT or routine tests. Strategies to reduce the number of inappropriate STAT tests should be established in order to reserve the emergency service for situations of true need.
