Here's what we do for clinically urgent reports for primary care:
* Communicated by analyst to Duty Biochemist immediately. After 1700 Duty Biochemist is medically qualified.
* Duty Biochemist gather what information is available and makes a decision to 'phone the out of hours primary care organisation or not. This is informed but not bound by the RCPath guidelines.
* If 'phoning the out of hours primary care organisation we talk to a medical practitioner (and don't just leave the report). That 'phone call includes clinical advice on options for management as well as the report.
* The original requester is then 'phoned the next working day. (The out of hours primary care organisation does this as well.)
* Lots of discussion about difficult decisions at the laboratory clinical meetings, and sometimes with GPs.
(I don't think the term "grossly abnormal" helps.)
Happy New Year
Jonathan
On 4 Jan 2012, at 16:24, Smith Helen - Consultant Clinical Biochemist wrote:
The 70% thing...
Dear All,
May I ask what your lab. does with grossly abnormal
results from primary care that are analysed in the middle of the
night?
What analyte results & at what level would your
lab. 'phone the out of hours service?
Who 'phones results? BMS/Clinical Scientist/Medical
staff/other?
Many thanks for your responses.
Happy New Year
Helen