I wouldn't worry about who is filling in the forms for analytical work
(but prescriptions, requests for blood products and imaging are very
different). But we all need to work on improving the accountability for
viewing and interpreting the report. We used to just assume this was
the medical practitioner who made the request: but this no longer holds
because others are requesting (as you observe), and junior doctors' and
GPs' working hours have decreased dramatically, so interpretation must
often be carried out by someone who didn't make the request.
The best approach IMHO is to reread and build on the study by
Kilpatrick and Holding (BMJ 2001;322:1101-3).
One of the advantages of computerised requesting by clinicians is the
control offered by formal user registration and the much improved audit
trial.
Jonathan
On Monday, Oct 13, 2003, at 16:59 Europe/London, Colley, Michael wrote:
> It is widely recognised that pathology request forms, particularly for
> urine
> samples, are filled out by non-medical staff, notably nurses and ward
> orderlies. We have also discovered cases where patients, on doctors'
> instructions, are filling out request forms for themselves.
>
> As we are in the process of developing order comms electronic
> requesting the
> question has been raised as to who should be given the ability to
> request
> tests.
>
> Does anyone know of any guidelines on this. Or what approach has been
> taken
> in labs that have already gone "paperless"?
>
> Michael
>
> Dr. C. M. Colley
> Consultant Chemical Pathologist
> The Great Western Hospital
> Swindon SN3 6BB
>
> [log in to unmask]
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