Improving the ordering, retrieval, and interpretation of appropriate laboratory tests.
Developing, maintaining, and improving systems to provide proper financial coverage for medically necessary testing.
Studies have demonstrated significant rates of unnecessary or inappropriate test orders, and delays in (or lack of) result retrieval.
To prevent hospital-acquired anemia, misleading test results and patient anxiety, and unnecessary costs to the health system and to patients.
Leadership commitment and governance
Data extraction and monitoring
Interventions
Review and improve
Reference(Link is external) (Link opens in new window): Dickerson JA, Fletcher AH, Procop G, Keren DF, Singh IR, Garcia JJ, Carpenter RB, Miles J, Jackson B, Astion ML. Transforming Laboratory Utilization Review into Laboratory Stewardship: Guidelines by the PLUGS National Committee for Laboratory Stewardship. J Appl Lab Med. 2017 Sep 1;2(2):259-268. doi: 10.1373/jalm.2017.023606. PMID: 32630981
UCLA Health Laboratory Stewardship Program
Pathology and Laboratory Stewardship Program Leadership
Alexander Martin, PA (ASCP), MHA, Laboratory Stewardship Task Force Co-Chair
Maria Estrada, MHA, PMP, Program Manager
Monique Trinh, MHA, Program Manager
Governance Structure
The Laboratory Stewardship Task Force (LSTF) consists of key Department stakeholders to develop and execute goals that ensure patients get the right rest at the right time.
The Laboratory Stewardship Oversight Committee (LSOC) consists of key UCLA Health leadership to provide oversight to the LSTF and assist with systemwide implementation efforts.
January 3, 2025
Congratulations to several members of the Laboratory Stewardship Task Force for their publications in The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine’s January 2025 Special Issue on Diagnostic Stewardship:
Chambliss AB, Deignan JL, Isip C, Trinh M, Werre W, Ziman A. Establishing Referral Laboratory Testing Governance and Addressing "Miscellaneous" Test Orders across an Academic Health System. J Appl Lab Med. 2025 Jan 3;10(1):4-12. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfae121. PMID: 39749453. Read the full articlehere(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).
Ibrahim KA, Astion ML. Financial Analytics for Laboratory Stewardship: Using Data and Informatics to Increase Financial Returns for Labs and Decrease Financial Harm to Patients. J Appl Lab Med. 2025 Jan 3;10(1):148-161. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfae135. PMID: 39749448. Read the full articlehere(Link is external) (Link opens in new window).
September 1, 2024
Congratulations to Dr. Josh Deignan, Laboratory Stewardship Task Force Co-Chair, on his article featured in Clinical Laboratory News, “Implementation of an automated EMR workflow to facilitate genetic consultation and review of inpatient genetic test requests.” ReadMore(Link is external) (Link opens in new window)
UCLA Health was awarded as the PLUGS Member of the Year for 2024! PLUGS(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) (Patient-centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services) is a laboratory stewardship collaborative with a mission to improve laboratory test access, ordering, retrieval, interpretation and reimbursement. This prestigious award is given to one of PLUGS’ 90+ member institutions based on the following assessment: 1) they have made significant advances in their laboratory stewardship program, 2) they have used the PLUGS network and services, and 3) they have contributed their experiences back to the PLUGS network. The award recognizes exceptional contributions to collaboration and leadership in lab test stewardship efforts locally and nationally. The award was announced at the annual PLUGS Summit held June 13-14, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. We are so grateful to all our faculty, trainees and lab staff whose dedication to better lab stewardship processes made this honor possible!
L to R: Monique Trinh, JEDI, Laboratory Stewardship, & Quality Improvement Program Manager, Dr. Jane Dickerson, Co-Founder and Director of Clinical Services at PLUGS & Dr. Allison Chambliss, Associate Clinical Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Director of Laboratory Stewardship
July 1, 2024
Congratulations to our Laboratory Stewardship Program Manager, Monique Trinh, and Dr. Allison Chambliss on their article featured in Clinical LaboratoryNews(Link is external) (Link opens in new window), "How a Program Manager Aligns Quality Improvement, Laboratory Stewardship, and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine."
The authors gratefully acknowledge Maria Estrada, our recently-hired second program manager, for reviewing this article.
Connect with Us
Test Directory
The UCLA Health Laboratory Test Directory is a great resource for information about available tests, specimen collection guidelines, qualified reference labs, and more. Please use thislink(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) to access the test directory.
Laboratory stewardship requires collaborative teamwork to ensure patients get the right test at the right time! Do you have ideas to improve test utilization? Please use thislink(Link is external) (Link opens in new window) to submit your suggestions to the LSTF. All ideas (big or small) are welcome!