Implementing a safer and more reliable system to monitor test results at a teaching university-affiliated facility in a family medicine group: a quality improvement process report.
Dorimain M-V, Plouffe-Malette M, Paquette M, et al. Implementing a safer and more reliable system to monitor test results at a teaching university-affiliated facility in a family medicine group: a quality improvement process report. BMJ Open Qual. 2023;12(4):e002291. doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2023-002291.
Laboratory tests are an integral part of diagnosing illness and injury, but system issues can result in the delayed communication of results to patients. This article describes use of the AHRQ toolkit Improving Your Office Testing Process to implement new testing and communication procedures. As an academic family practice clinic, an important first step was allowing residents to order tests and receive results in their own name instead of through an attending physician, which can cause delays in communication to patients. Providers and patients were satisfied with the new process.