Test results

84% of practices had risks associated with test results.

Common issues:

  • No system to record returned results.
  • Test results not recorded onto the computer.
  • No system to ensure that patients are followed up.
  • Non-clinical staff allowed to inform patients of their results.

Case

Test results are returned to the practice via “lablinks”. Susan, the practice manager, reviews all the test results as they arrive and sends the results that read “normal” to the patients’ records, ie the GPs only review test results that are marked as abnormal.

Risk advice

Ensure that the GPs review all test results. It is not the responsibility of the administration staff to review test results. The current system is unsafe as, on occasions, even a normal result may prompt further action.

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