Stat Laboratory Interventions to Improve Patient Management in the Emergency Department and Resource Expenditure: A 10-Year Study

Objective: To illustrate the changes in stat laboratory procedures over a 10 year period.

Materials and methods: We implemented 5 different interventions: reporting total bilirubin through the icteric index, replacing total proteins for albumin, reporting albumin-adjusted calcium in hyper- or hypocalcemia, using lipase as a first marker and amylase-selected scenario, and measuring magnesium in hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, or high lipase values.

Results: Only 9.9% of total bilirubin that was requested was measured, which resulted in savings of $22,492.83. There were 30,036 albumin tests measured, and $15,625.18 was saved replacing total protein. There was $41,374.38 spent to measure lipase and amylase; the difference in costs from the lipase establishment was $16,929.62. Finally, $382.30 was spent for magnesium: 717 magnesium levels were measured given hypocalcemia or hypokalemia (42.8% hypomagnesemia), and 123 tests were added because of high lipase (35% hypomagnesemia). Overall, $53,374.15 was saved.

Conclusion: Progressive changes in stat laboratory procedures resulted in more efficient resources expenditures.