Table 1
Comparison of outcome oriented and experience based practice in microbiology
| Outcome oriented practice | Experience based practice |
|---|---|
| Focus | |
| • Rapid, simple methods | • Conventional techniques |
| • Presumptive descriptive results | • Complete investigation |
| • Clinically relevant reporting | • “State of art” scientific reporting |
| • Better patient outcome at lower cost | • Laboratory output |
| • Competitive service and utilisation control | • Academic excellence |
| Concept | |
| • “Duty of cure” | • “Duty of care” |
| • Explicit, can be evaluated | • Implicit, usually cannot be measured |
| • Relating to general rules or diagnostic pathways | • Focused on a specific patient |
