Research Reel

Submitted by Dr. Catherine Omosule, Associate Editor

Laboratory stewardship is crucial for ensuring quality assurance, improving laboratory governance, and optimizing the clinical utility of laboratory tests. However, effective stewardship programs require significant time, resources, and consistent support from leadership, which may not be readily available in all laboratory settings1. Volume 10, Issue 1 of the Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine (JALM) features two articles that address key aspects of laboratory stewardship. The first article examines the governance structures of laboratory stewardship committees in U.S. academic medical centers 1. This study found that the majority of participating institutions have established committees with diverse membership, emphasizing the importance of including IT and informatics specialists.

The second article evaluates the impact of restructuring “MISC” (miscellaneous) test orders on performance indicators, including turnaround time and costs2. By analyzing MISC test orders over a 12-month period, the authors identified opportunities to create discretely orderable tests that were readily adopted by providers. This restructuring resulted in improved turnaround times and increased awareness of available laboratory services across the healthcare system. Furthermore, the process facilitated the development and implementation of new referral tests to better support patient care.