Karen Wood, Pathologist and CEO of Aotea Pathology in Wellington New Zealand, describes the success of their recent eLab pilot which enables GPs in the Wellington region to order lab tests online. This presentation was given at the recent HealthLink eLab roadshow.
www.healthlink.net
Step 1 All patient demographics and requestor details added Referrer adds: -test data -relevant clinical history -copy doctors -response to prompts/compulsory fields eg current antibiotic Step 2 -Clinical advice available – in eLab or through website links -sample/patient requirements eg fasting Step 3 Request form printed – primarily information sheet for patient Includes – where to go, when to have the test, patient preparation, barcode Step 4 Information for GP back into Medtech – Patient Advanced Forms and Daily Record Step 5 Patient presents with form – scanned to pull all patient/test/referrer information into LIS -correct identifying information, standardised format, -collection information for phlebotomist -Sample collected and barcoded – no transcription errors – all information accessed through barcode No hand labelling of tubes – Straight onto analysers after final check
Form View – elab launch screen From this screen you can; Select tests Select profiles (Macros) Hover over Green ! Icon for info Go to Normal View by clicking M ore tests Clear the form by clicking R emove tests And move forward to the page two screen where you can enter clinical information and finalise the request, click N ext
Elab Normal View Screen On this screen you can, Search for tests Look up tests by department Check the Pathology Test Guide beside the test Add/create profiles Change the urgency (on certain tests) Go back to Form view or move forward to the Page Two screen by clicking N ext
The Page Two On this screen you can, Select a home visit or add on test if required Enter clinical information Add Copy To clinicians Change the date if future testing is required Answer questions regarding pregnancy, copy to pt and ph results Ph/Fax results – numbers Billing instructions And note information for the patient and/or collector There may be some mandatory clinical information required for certain tests e.g. Thrombophilia screen, Vit D, ESR etc
Error reduction -manual re-entry error - 10% error rate prior to second check -data is complete -legibility not an issue -correctly identified location for referrer and copy doctor Better clinical information -relevant to test eg. overseas travel, drug dose, antibiotic treatment Clinical advice -relevant to the patient and test at the time of ordering -quick links to test and clinical guidelines -advice on test availability eg specialist only tests -notification of patient charges Less specimen error -wrong specimen type, unlabelled or mislabelled -reduced opportunity for patient specimen mix Patient better prepared -when to test, where to find that lab, opening hours etc -preparation Service efficiency -test volumes rising, capped funding -lab has to introduce efficiency to maintain expected levels of testing System based on industry standard -ultimately use in other PMS, other data transfer entities, other laboratories
Currently: -Record of request in Daily Record and Advanced Forms (Medtech functions) -Truency – list sent to practice of patients who have not presented to Aotea (parameter – tests and time frame) set by practice -Early 2012 – record in Tasks to assist follow-up