You would have to scan for those on google but my take is that it may not
reduce cost and may actually increase costs in working up abnormal findings
that are not really significant or acted upon under other conditions.
You would have to ask your doctors about that. Do they work up everything on
an abnormal UA and if they don't then it's not needed.

Just wanted to point out that instrument reads provide more precise results
over continuous dipstick reads.  Human eyes and brains can interpret one
wavelength as two slightly different colors, and this introduces bias into
the test, thus making an instrument better with regards to consistent
results for patient care.  Also, instead of having the tech need to watch
the strips develop, you can put the strip on the instrument and walk away
for the time it takes to run.
However, having and maintaining an analyzer has its own expenses that may
become a factor depending on your budget.  I have a Clinitek 500, and after
the initial purchase, my only routine analyzer-only related expenses are
thermal paper, electricity, soap & water (to clean with).  These are very
small expenses for me, and the same size thermal paper is used by two
different analyzers and I can get a volume discount, thus further reducing
costs.

Does urinalysis during routine patient physicals have the

I have to agree that this is somewhat dependent on how the physicians follow
up on abnormal results.  In other words, will they panic over anything and
order a full workup, or will they use common sense and look for a rational
explanation from the patient or the history.  Horses before zebras and all
that.  However, if the physicians use their heads while evaluating the
results, it also has the potential to provide a real cost savings with
regards to those smaller percentages of patients who have a new onset
disease that is caught before the patient is in dire straits.  My lab
routinely performs screening urinalysis for physicals, and more recently as
a state health requirement for pediatric patients on state funded
healthcare.  We've caught numerous UTI's in the early stages before symptoms
were evident, thus reducing the number of office visits and associated
expenses.  Out of 21 physicians in our facility, I've only had one that
wants to overwork an abnormal UA, and after a visit with one of our
Pathologists, he seems to have eased up quite a bit.  Seems to have been an
education issue.  :)

Shylirin