Variability and Costs of Low-Value Preoperative Testing for Cataract Surgery Within the Veterans Health Administration.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

The Choosing Wisely guidelines indicate that preoperative testing is often unnecessary and wasteful for patients undergoing cataract operations. However, little is known about the impact of these widely disseminated guidelines within the US Veterans Health Administration (VHA) system.

Objective

To examine the extent, variability, associated factors, and costs of low-value tests (LVTs) prior to cataract operations in the VHA.

Design, setting, and participants

This cohort study examined records of all patients receiving cataract operations within the VHA in fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016, to September 31, 2017). Records from 135 facilities nationwide supporting both ambulatory and inpatient surgery were included.

Exposures

A laboratory test occurrin

SUBMITTER: Mudumbai SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8103225 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature