Page 60 - Avoiding Surgical Mishaps Part 1

SVMIC Avoiding Surgical Mishaps: Dissecting the Risks

individual medical record. In order to accomplish this, there are

different methods which can be employed.

One method is to use a system which allows the provider and
staff to view all of the tests ordered within a specific time frame

on a single screen. In those systems, the tests for which no
results have been received appear in a different color font or are

highlighted for easy identification.

In another system, the staff is able to run a query to obtain a

report of ordered tests that have not yet been received. When
the query is run, the staff is then responsible for investigating the

list to determine if the test was completed or if the patient failed
to appear for the ordered tests.

The best system for electronically tracking labs and diagnostics

is a system that will alert the ordering provider or office staff
when a test result is outstanding or a consultation report has

not been received. The alert may appear in the
form of a flag on the EHR home screen or as

a message in his/her task box or email. The
provider can then follow-up appropriately which

may include asking a staff member to contact
the patient.

The practice should be aware that the use of any type of
electronic tracking systems requires that every lab or diagnostic

vendor at which its patients may receive services must be
able to interface with the EHR in the practice; otherwise,

the information that you need in order to determine what is
outstanding may not be available to your system. If there are

labs or facilities that do not interface with your EHR, then a
manual tracking system must be employed for the patients who

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