Page 24 - 2020 Risk Reduction Series Effective Systems_Part 1_Flipbook

SVMIC Risk Reduction Series: Effective Systems

filed in the record. Or if they are scanned into the EHR,

they should be tasked to the provider. It is critical to have
uniform processes in the office so that these incoming test

results are always handled the same way for all providers.

• If the provider who ordered the tests is not in the office
when the results are received, a surrogate reviewer should
be assigned to fulfill this responsibility.

Lapses in communication of diagnostic and lab tests as well

as coordination of care among consultants create challenges
for outpatient practices. The importance of handling lab and

diagnostic test results consistently across the practice cannot
be overemphasized. By adopting office-wide strategies for

tracking, the entire staff can work together as a cohesive unit
and successfully manage oversight of this important process.

The value of making the tracking system consistent across
the entire practice is even more evident on days when staff

absences require the employees to assist a provider with
whom they may not be familiar. If a single tracking system is

consistently used for all providers, the risk of losing important
tests or follow-ups is significantly reduced.

This course will repeatedly discuss EHR factors contributing
to patient safety issues. The importance of every team

member having a mastery of the EHR, including frequent

review of potential flaws and patient safety issues, cannot be
overemphasized. Workarounds or shortcuts often fail, resulting
in patient harm from an error with unreliable or nonexistent

processes to address use of templates, copy/paste, test result

tracking, referrals, medication errors, or other issues. In a
lawsuit, a workaround or shortcut can appear as if the provider
was sloppy or careless or that the practice simply was more

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