Reducing Unnecessary Pre-Operative Testing: A Key to Cost Savings and Efficiency

Strategic Insights -

At hospitals around the country, patients undergoing elective surgery are often subjected to a plethora of tests and scans, even if the results will not change the course of their treatment. This wasteful testing can consume valuable time, cause unnecessary hassle, and incur significant costs. However, a new study led by the University of Michigan team has identified a solution to this problem, demonstrating a successful approach to reducing unnecessary pre-operative testing. The study's findings have already inspired the expansion of the program, known as Right-Sizing Testing Before Elective Surgery (RITE-Size), to 16 more Michigan hospitals over the next two years.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that 68% of healthy patients undergoing certain types of elective surgery were subjected to unnecessary pre-operative testing, which decreased to 40% after a tailored intervention.
  • The RITE-Size program involved educating and supporting healthcare teams to reduce wasteful testing, with regular data reports to track progress.
  • The program's success has led to its expansion to 16 more Michigan hospitals, with support from multiple quality initiatives, including the Michigan Value Collaborative and the Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group.
  • The study's authors say that including pre-operative nurses in the implementation model was crucial to its success.
  • The program is being funded by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
  • The study's findings have implications for healthcare systems looking to reduce unnecessary testing and improve patient care.

Statistics:

  • 68% of healthy patients undergoing certain types of elective surgery were subjected to unnecessary pre-operative testing before the RITE-Size program.
  • The number of patients undergoing unnecessary testing decreased to 40% after six months of the tailored intervention.
  • The study involved data from patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies, inguinal hernia repairs, and breast lumpectomies at one of the three hospitals over six months in 2024.
  • The RITE-Size program has been expanded to 16 more Michigan hospitals over the next two years.
  • The program has been funded by a grant from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (5R01HS029306-02).

Sources:

  • "Right-Sizing Testing Before Elective Surgery for Patients With Low Risk" (JAMA Network Open, doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.35750)
  • University of Michigan Health website
  • NewsRx LLC (2025)
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan website
  • Michigan Value Collaborative website
  • Multicenter Perioperative Outcomes Group website