ImprovingLaboratory Performance in Healthcare Delivery Systems through Optimal Stage Selection: The Analytic Network Process Approach

Abstract

Laboratory services in healthcare delivery systems play a vital role in inpatient care. Laboratory testing alone accounts for approximately 10% of hospital billing. A goal for the U.S managed healthcare delivery system is to considerably reduce laboratory costs. To aid in achieving this goal, a research study is performed that focuses on the optimization of a clinical laboratory in a local hospital system. This paper shows how the analytic network process (ANP) model can be applied in assessing and ranking the three stages of the laboratory process to determine the stage that is most critical for optimization purposes. Once the most critical stage is identified and optimized significant cost savings can be achieved. The final results of the ANP model in this study indicate the preanalytical stage is the most critical among the three stages in the laboratory process.