A large, Chicago-based FQHC network wanted to optimize efficiency of testing, improve patient care and provide better, more accurate testing for their highrisk population, while also eliminating unnecessary testing expenses. The network, however, faced a lack of population health analytics tools and limited funding to invest in developing their own.
Gaining insight to advance community health
To gain the necessary insight to implement effective treatment practices and better meet their quality metrics, the FQHC collaborated with Labcorp, their partner of more than a decade. Through Labcorp’s Insight Analytics program, the network was able to view utilization reports for tests of interest based on national guidelines and best practices. Several actionable key findings emerged:
- Opportunities to better adhere to clinical guidelines. The data revealed certain cancer screenings – particularly cervical and prostate – were being ordered outside of the established guidelines
- Patterns of commonly misordered tests. Analysis showed both less clinically informative tests and less common tests were being misordered, sometimes simply because the test names were similar or appeared first in the system
- Unnecessary testing expenses. Patients tested for thyroid function were receiving a larger panel of tests via concurrent batch testing, creating unnecessary testing and expenses