Justin Glasgow, MD, PhD

Overview

This module will review current knowledge regarding the utilization of routine and daily laboratory evaluation for hospitalized patients in the context of the Choosing Wisely campaign recommendation to not to perform repetitive complete blood count (CBC) and chemistry testing in the face of clinical and lab stability. The module will then walk through the “QI roadmap” briefly discussing how an institution can evaluate their local practice and improve performance in line with the Choosing Wisely recommendation. This module will review the relevant steps, but does assume that the audience is familiar with the content of the “Planning and Executing Quality Improvement Projects” QI CME module through SHM.

Objectives

1. Recognize the risks and harms associated with laboratory testing in the inpatient setting
2. Understand how the “QI roadmap” can support your effort to adapt best practice to your health system
3. Review a successful QI case study of how to decrease unnecessary lab testing

Key Points

• Statistically 5% of lab results will represent a false positive potentially:
  • Extending length of stay
  • Initiating a testing cascade
  • Increasing costs
  • Driving iatrogenic anemia
• Successful QI interventions can reduce unnecessary lab testing and improve patient and system outcomes

Accreditation Statement

The Society of Hospital Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Statement Designation

The Society of Hospital Medicine designates this activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Release date: November 9, 2020 & expiration date: November 9, 2023
Estimated time to complete: 1 hour

Conflict Of Interest Disclosure Policy

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, SHM requires that individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. SHM mitigates all conflicts of interest to ensure independence, objectivity, balance, and scientific rigor in all its educational programs. All relevant financial relationships shall be disclosed to participants prior to the start of the activity.

Furthermore, SHM seeks to verify that all scientific research referred to, reported, or used in a continuing medical education (CME) activity conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. SHM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities that promote improvements in healthcare and not those of a commercial interest.