Managing Costs Associated With Rush Cases

Establishing policies and processes to prioritize and manage rush cases helps to restrain the excessive costs agencies and laboratories experience. Actions that can be taken to ensure effective policies and processes include the following:

• Develop and communicate a rush policy for the laboratory
  • Ensure clarity and understanding of what constitutes a rush
  • Use rush requests judiciously and only when there is a legitimate need
• Implement a prioritization system that is agreed upon by the laboratory and submitting agencies
• Establish a cancellation policy to address previously requested testing that is no longer needed. Be aware, that if the laboratory has already initiated testing, they may still need to complete the case and issue a report.

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