| abstract |
A system (10) is provided that integrates of records of clinical laboratory services into the assessment and optimization of patient health care and, in particular, regulation of the use of pharmaceuticals. Laboratory test result records are used in conjunction with other health care benefits records (22, 23, 24, and 26) to monitor regulation of use of pharmaceuticals by patients. The incorporation of laboratory tests and results into such a utilization system allows improvement in the management of a patient's therapy based on a more precise picture of the patient's level of illness as revealed by the laboratory test results. The system of the present invention also allows optimization of the selection of laboratory tests to be performed, and also provides an outcome assessment of the risk of hospitalization due to pharmaceutical treatments resulting in physician intervention, leading to a change in physician prescribing behavior and, accordingly, a decrease in drug induced hospitalizations and improved quality of patient care and savings of health care costs. |