Adoption of a laboratory EMR system and inappropriate laboratory testing in Ontario: a cross-sectional observational study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have the potential to facilitate appropriate laboratory testing. We examined three common medical tests in primary care-hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), lipid, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)- to assess whether adoption of a laboratory EMR system in Ontario had an impact on the rate of inappropriate testing among primary care physicians.

Methods

We used FY2016-17 population-level laboratory data to estimate the association between adoption of a laboratory EMR system and the rate of inappropriate testing. Inappropriate testing was assessed based on recommendations for screening, monitoring, and follow-up that take into account risk factors related to patient age and certain clinical conditions. To overcome the problem of potenti

SUBMITTER: Chami N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8025377 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature