What is Preoperative Testing?
Prior to surgeries, providers often order preop tests to identify clinically significant concerns. This may include tests such as blood work, electrocardiograms, or chest x-rays. However, research evidence shows that preoperative testing, especially prior to low-risk, outpatient surgical procedures, often provides no clinical benefits and may even cause harm. Despite this, these services continue to be ordered at unnecessary rates.
MVC’s preoperative testing value-based improvement initiative helps increase the rate of patients receiving appropriate preoperative testing in Michigan by giving providers tools to improve, peer learning opportunities, utilization data, and pay-for-performance incentives.
False alarms from preoperative tests can delay surgeries, creating additional burdens for patients and surgeons.
Preoperative testing can lead to a treatment cascade if non-significant abnormal results are detected. These additional tests or invasive procedures may cause real patient harm.
Preoperative testing is estimated to cost the United States $18 billion annually, and preoperative payments totaled over $3.7 million in Michigan in 2018 according to MVC claims data.
MVC recently partnered with MPrOVE, MSQC, and ASPIRE to establish RITE-Size, an initiative working to help hospitals reduce low-value preoperative testing before low-risk, elective procedures.
RESOURCES
RITE-Size Decision Aid & Preop Testing Chart
MVC Preoperative Testing Blinded Report
MVC developed preoperative testing reporting to evaluate testing rates across the state of Michigan for three low-risk procedures. These data are available to members and RITE-Size partners via MVC push reports, custom reports, and registry pages.