Page 25 - 2022 Risk Basics - Systems

SVMIC Risk Basics: Systems

• Patient confidentiality is protected regardless of how clinical test

results are conveyed.

• The ordering physician is notified before the disclosure takes

place and has access to the results as they will be conveyed to

the patient/surrogate, if results are to be conveyed directly to the
patient/surrogate by a third party.

C A S E S T U DY

Patrick Connor, a 62-year-old male with a history of asthmatic
bronchitis, cough, and hypertension, was seen by his PCP. After

obtaining labs and a chest x-ray, he prescribed meds and told Mr.
Connor he was sending the chest x-ray for an overread as it

appeared there was a nodule. The radiologist recommended a CT
for “potential malignancy” and noted multiple nodules. The

radiologist did not call the PCP to confirm the suspicion, and the
report was received but not reviewed by the PCP. The office did

not have a system in place for imaging obtained in the office but
sent for overread. The patient returned 14 months later with cough

and persistent shoulder/back pain, and the PCP discovered the
report. The patient was diagnosed with metastatic cancer and filed

a medical malpractice lawsuit.

Patient Portals

Practices can make use of electronic patient portals for notification of
normal non-sensitive test results for those patients who have signed a

written consent or electronically agreed to receive information via the
portal. However, it is not reasonable to assume all patients are able

or choose to use the portal. Practices should have a way of verifying
that patients have accessed the portal before utilizing this as the sole

vehicle of notification of normal, non-sensitive results. Patients who

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