we enter the summary onto the lab computer for a report and send a copy of
the full report to th requesting consultant, and possibly phone them to
discuss results
A
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [log in to unmask] [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 04 October 2000 10:47
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: reference lab results review
>
> As a reference lab providing urinary steroid profile analysis, I would be
> interested in comments from list members on how they handle the reports
> they
> receive. My reports, like those of other similar services in the UK,
> consist of an extensive list of values for different metabolites and a
> comment. Whilst not every value may be said to be relevant to a particular
> diagnosis, I report a standard list, both because being selective requires
> more decision making and therefore more time and also because alternative
> interpretations based on new information are still possible. Having
> laboured
> to produce an A4 word processed sheet which contains, in my view, no
> superfluous information, I had always assumed that a copy of this would
> find
> its way, via the clinical chemist, to the patient's notes.
>
> It has recently become apparent that many labs retype the result onto
> their
> reporting systems and may only transmit the comment. Among reasons given
> are that paper storage is difficult to reconcile with electronic systems
> and
> that "the clinician will not understand all that detail".
>
> On the last point, I'm not sure why another clinical chemist thinks they
> understand what a doctor will understand better than I do. I aim to write
> my
> reports for the doctor and asssume that the clinical chemist, if asked to
> further explain, will call on me if need be. The other is more tricky.
> It
> is obviously a waste of a trained person's time to act as a copy typist,
> and
> errors are inevitable. Will this be resolved by wider use of scanners?
> At
> the risk of sounding like a dinosaur, it would be a poor pathology
> reporting
> system that forced its users to compress and distort external reports.
> What
> about referral labs moving over to electronic transmission?
>
> All feedback appreciated!
>
> Norman Taylor
>
>
>
>
> Norman F. Taylor
> Clinical Scientist/Hon Lecturer
>
> Phone (Direct) 020 7346 3731
> Fax 020 7737 7434
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