Background: Inpatient phlebotomy-associated-anemia (PAA) has garnered significant attention in recent years, with numerous studies delving into this common and preventable condition’s implications for patient outcomes. During hospitalization, it is estimated that about 18% of patients develop anemia associated with phlebotomy. We evaluated the prevalence and impact of PAA at Grady Memorial, a public safety-net hospital. [...]

Background: Up to 50% of the American healthcare spending is estimated to be wasteful. The largest type of wasteful spending is on overuse of tests and treatments. Among the diagnostic tests that are overused, excessive phlebotomy stands out due to its multifaceted implications, including hospital-acquired anemia, patient discomfort, provider burden, and avoidable downstream testing. The [...]