Use of Radiology and Laboratory Tests Among Selected Inpatients in Canadian and United States Hospitals, 1990-1991

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of radiology and laboratory tests provided to inpatients admitted with specific medical and surgical Diagnosis-Related Groups (DRGs) to four hospitals in the United States and four hospitals in Canada. These DRGs covered specific cerebral vascular accidents (except transient ischemic attack), simple pneumonia and pleurisy with complications and comorbidities (CC), acute myocardial infarction with CC, acute myocardial infarction without CC, appendectomy with CC, major joint or limb reattachment procedures, hip and femur procedures with major joint procedure, uterine/adnexa procedures for nonmalignancy with CC, and uterine/adnexa procedures for nonmalignancy without CC. Patient admissions are the units of observation. For each patient admission, relative value units are given for radiology and laboratory tests that were administered, including biochemistry tests, hematology/coagulation tests, vascular radiology tests, nuclear medicine tests, ultrasound tests, and X-rays. Additional data cover patient age, gender, length of hospital stay, and principal discharge diagnosis.