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Previous Volume 342:204-205 January 20, 2000 Number 3 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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The conclusion of the elegant study by Schein et al.¹ in this issue of the Journal seems obvious from their data: we should stop ordering routine preoperative laboratory tests for patients before cataract operations or other relatively simple surgical procedures. On the other hand, without changes to the system to increase preoperative clinical assessment by physicians, we may see poorer patient outcomes and higher long-term costs.

The ultimate goals of preoperative medical assessment are to reduce the morbidity associated with surgery, to increase the quality and decrease the cost of perioperative care, and to restore the patient quickly to the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

References

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