Assessment of request of laboratory tests in a university hospital: consequences for Clinical and Management

Abstract Background The increasing demand of medical care according to the principles established by the Brazilian Unified Health System made the current situation of public health gain complexity involving funding and support to maintain these services. There are reports of excessive use of diagnostic resources often unnecessary, with consequences for patients and for the budget of health services, especially hospitals. Objective It was to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative results of laboratory tests ordered in the outpatient clinics of Cardiology and Endocrinology of the Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School-USP. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out. An analysis of the exams was performed in outpatient clinics in the endocrinology and cardiology between July/2012 and July/2013. Results The number of tests was similar over the 12 months, and the examination/patient relationship was higher in the cardiology clinic with 10.36 versus 5.91 observed in endocrinology clinic. Besides that, it was observed the sub-elements of the tests, which demonstrated similar results: in Cardiology average rate of change elements was 20.79%, whereas in endocrinology, the average was 22.39%. Conclusion Understanding the behavior of physicians in requesting laboratory examinations in a large hospital can stimulate leaders and managers to seek proposals to improve the management of these large centers of high complexity of care. Thus, they can seek efficiency, quality of care and teaching.