RT Journal
A1 Schaefer GR, Matus HL, Goetz C, Arora VM
T1 MAgnetic resonance imaging monsters and surgical vampires
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2011
FD November 1
VO 146
IS 11
SP 1333
OP 1334
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2011.284
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2011.284
AB 
Inappropriate and redundant ordering of laboratory tests is a well-known driver of high medical costs.1 The article titled “Surgical Vampires and Rising Health Care Expenditure” by Stuebing and Miner2 highlights the fact that physicians are unaware of the costs of these laboratory tests and unaware of the need for greater price transparency. Moreover, after reporting laboratory charges to surgical teams, Stuebing and Miner2 found that expenditures were reduced by almost a third, resulting in $54 967 in savings in 11 weeks. In addition to the overuse of laboratory tests, imaging is another major contributor to wasteful hospital expenditures.3