Tampa, Fla.—Preoperative laboratory testing is routine, yet it detects clinically significant abnormal results in only about 1% of patients and, at a cost of approximately $18 billion annually, carries a hefty price tag. Research at one institution suggests that selectively decreasing testing can save significant resources without any ill effect.
“Previous studies have shown the value of selective testing in low-risk outpatient surgery. We hypothesized that applying