Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives.
Litchfield I, Bentham L, Hill A, et al. Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives. BMJ Qual Saf. 2015;24(11):681-90. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003690.
This telephone survey of outpatient practice managers in the United Kingdom found that most practices expected patients to inquire about their test results, in line with prior research. The vast majority of respondents did not have systems in place to ensure that laboratory results were received and acted upon. This underscores the persistence of test results management as a safety vulnerability despite extensive research.