McKinney, M. (2011). To cut test expenses, talk to docs about costs: Study. Modern Physician. Retrieved from http://www.modernphysician.com/article/20110517/MODERNPHYSICIAN/305179997/&AllowView=VW8xUmo5Q21TcWJOb1gzb0tNN3RLZ0h0MWg5SVgra3NZRzROR3l0WWRMZmJVZndHRWxYek9UYktwUGZUamg5b1g4WFFERmhzbHhaSXRUYk9WYVU9&trk=mp_newsletter#.

This article from Modern Physician presents an overview of a 2011 study that examined the correlation between surgeon awareness of costs and number of blood tests administered. The study found that when surgeons knew the dollar value of tests, they preformed less blood tests. The decreasing number of test had no impact on mortality rates, length of hospital stay, transfer to ICU, etc. Additionally, the hospitals monitored in the study saw huge costs savings from the decrease in blood tests. The original study is available at the Archives of Surgery, though subscription is required to access the full text version.