The effectiveness of interventions to improve laboratory requesting patterns among primary care physicians

"Interventions such as educational strategies, feedback and changing test order forms may improve the efficient use of laboratory tests in primary care; however, the level of evidence is quite low and the quality is poor." 

The effectiveness of interventions to improve laboratory requesting patterns among primary care physicians: a systematic review

SL Cadogan, John P. Browne1, Colin P. Bradley2 and Mary R. Cahill3
Implementation Science 2015, 10:167  doi:10.1186/s13012-015-0356-4

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Costing report: menopause diagnosis and management

"This report focuses on the recommendations that are considered to have the greatest resource impact nationally, and therefore need the most additional resources to implement or can potentially generate the biggest savings. They are:

- decrease the number of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) tests in women 
- increase use of transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT). "

Costing report: menopause diagnosis and management 
Implementing the NICE guideline on menopause (NG23)
NICE
November 2015

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A novel approach to improving coagulation sample ordering in an emergency department

"Through a simple change in longstanding clinical practice, we were able to reduce the number of unnecessary coagulation samples sent from the emergency department."

A novel approach to improving coagulation sample ordering in an emergency department
E Murphy, S MacGlone, C McGroarty
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u204785.w2857

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Myocardial infarction (acute): Early rule out using high-sensitivity troponin tests

NICE have created a costing statement and audit tool to help implement and assess the impact of diagnostic guidance for acute Myocardial infarction.

Myocardial infarction (acute): Early rule out using high-sensitivity troponin tests (Elecsys Troponin T high-sensitive, ARCHITECT STAT High Sensitive Troponin-I and AccuTnI+3 assays)
NICE
October 2014

Access the tools here.

General practice, diagnostic investigations and hospital services before and after cancer diagnosis

"Cancer patients' heightened demand for GP services one year after their diagnosis highlights the importance of close coordination and communication between the primary and the secondary healthcare sector."

Use of general practice, diagnostic investigations and hospital services before and after cancer diagnosis - a population-based nationwide registry study of 127,000 incident adult cancer patients
KG Christensen, M Fenger-Gron, KR Flarup, P Vedsted
BMC Health Services Research, 2012, 12:224

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Appropriate use of screening and diagnostic tests to foster high-value, cost-conscious care

"The overuse of some screening and diagnostic tests is an important component of unnecessary health care costs."

Appropriate use of screening and diagnostic tests to foster high-value, cost-conscious care
A Qaseem, et al.
Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(2):147-149

Read more here.