Objectives: The aim of the study was to ascertain the efficacy of an intervention -where laboratory test costs were provided to clinicians as a pocket-sized brochure - to reduce the laboratory test costs over a 4 month period. Design: This was a non randomised intervention study where the intervention. group was compared to a similar and concurrent control group regarding the difference in laboratory test costs over a specified period in a specific year. The costs incurred were also computed for the same 2 groups over an identical time period and seasonal period in the preceding year, referred to as the control period. Setting and Subjects: The study was conducted in the Internal Medicine Wards at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital. The intervention period was during the winter months of May to August 2008 and the pre-intervention period was in the same months of the preceding year. Outcome measures: In the two (2007 and 2008) 4 month periods, for each patient admitted, the number of days in hospital and the laboratory tests ordered were computed. For the Intervention and control groups, pre and post intervention cost and days in hospital were estimated. The differences in logcosts per day were compared over time using ANOVA with group (1-2), time (1-2) and group*time as factors. Results: The mean cost per patient admitted in the intervention group decreased from R 2864.09 to R 2097.47 as a result of the intervention – a 27 % reduction in cost. The mean cost per day in the intervention group as a whole also decreased from R 442.90 to R 284.14 due to the intervention – a 36% reduction in cost. By contrast, in the control group, all costs increased in the control group from the pre-intervention to intervention periods – mean cost per admission in this group increased from R 1859.87 to R 2429.25 – an increase of 23%. The mean cost per day admitted in this group also increased from R 363.54 to R 371.92 – an increase of 2.2%. Conclusion: A heightened awareness of the cost of a laboratory test be it prospectively or retrospectively is a cost-effective and sustainable method of making doctors order tests rationally and appropriately. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Internal Medicine / unrestricted

Η είσοδος των ηλεκτρονικών λύσεων, εφαρμογών και διευκολύνσεων στις τραπεζικές συναλλαγές δεν είναι κάποια νέα υπόθεση. Το διαφορετικό, σήμερα, βρίσκεται στις τεράστιες δυνατότητες, που προσφέρει η τεχνολογία για την άμεση και συνεχόμενη διασύνδεση της τρα-πεζικής πελατείας με όλα τα προϊόντα και υπηρεσίες του τραπεζικού συστήματος. Οι νέες αυτές δυνατότητες περιγράφονται με τον όρο ηλεκτρονική τραπεζική. Αυτόματες ταμειακές μηχανές σε όλα τα τραπεζικά καταστήματα, ηλεκτρονικές αγορές μέσω καρτών και τηλεφωνικές συναλλαγές προσφέρουν υπηρεσίες που εφαρμόζονται ήδη με μεγάλη επιτυχία. Επίσης και η τραπεζική μέσω του Διαδικτύου αναπτύσσεται με αξιοσημείωτους βαθμούς. Η σχέση των πελατών με την τράπεζά τους ενδύεται πλέον τις ανάγκες της εποχής και προσαρμόζονται στους ρυθμούς με τους οποίους εργάζεται η σύγχρονη, παγκοσμοποιούμενη και συνεχώς ανταγωνιστικότερη οικονομία. Συνεχής λειτουργία επί 24 ώρες και για τις 7 ημέρες της εβδομάδες, με παράλληλη εντυπωσιακή μείωση του χρόνου εκτέλεσης των εντολών και περιορισμού του κόστους. Το ηλεκτρονικό δίκτυο, όπως απεικονίζεται στη φιλική μορφή του Διαδίκτυο (internet) προσφέρει πολλαπλές δυνατότητες εμπορικής ανάπτυξης των ηλεκτρονικών συναλλαγών. Με το ηλεκτρονικό χρήμα να αποτελεί, εδώ και πολύ καιρό, μια καθημερινή συνήθεια ο δρόμος για ριζοσπαστικές αλλαγές έχει ανοίξει. / The entrance of electronic solutions, applications and facilities in banking is not a new case. The different today is the enormous possibilities offered by technology for direct and con-tinuous connection of bank customers with all products and services of the banking system. These new features are described by the term electronic banking. Cash machines in all bank branches, electronic shopping cards and telephone transactions offer services that are be-ing applied with great success. Also the bank via the Internet is growing at a remarkable degree. The customer relationship with their bank now wears the needs of the times and adapt to the rhythms with which modern works, globalized and increasingly competitive economy. Contin-uous operation for 24 hours and 7 days of the week, while striking reduction in the time of exe-cution and cost containment. The electronic network, as illustrated in the friendly form of Internet offers multiple pos-sibilities for commercial development of electronic transactions. With electronic money to be here a long time, a daily habit the way for radical changes has opened.