Management structure: Establishing a laboratory utilization program and tools for utilization management

As laboratories are challenged to do more with fewer resources, the pathologist and laboratory director will play a greater role in improving the effectiveness of the laboratory, as well as addressing the overuse, misuse and underuse of laboratory testing. We describe the necessary characteristics for pathologists and laboratory directors to successfully lead utilization efforts, as well as key leadership tools and essential steps in creating a utilization management program. When we established a laboratory test utilization program de novo, it became clear how important the laboratory director was in guiding those initiatives by working with stakeholders outside of the laboratory, particularly clinicians, nurses and administrators.