In addition to tracking the number of tests performed or the billable tests performed, consider adding the number of patients who were served on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis in each of the clinical laboratory disciplines. Depending upon the laboratory and hospital information system, this may be tracked via accession numbers or encounter numbers. The very nature of collecting this type of data will change the clinical laboratory professional's focus from specimen to patient.
Collecting other data, such as the number and the subsequent rate of abnormal tests and critical test results, will also provide valuable prevalence information for the population of patients served by the laboratory.
