Tests pending at discharge. How does laboratory testing impact transition of care?

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Tests pending at discharge. How does laboratory testing impact transition of care?

For those of us in the field of laboratory medicine we all suspect or know a large number of tests are ordered on inpatients and only resulted after a patient is discharged.  Unfortunately, it’s often hard to quantify exactly how many times this happens, which tests were ordered, and the possible impact on patients if test results are missed.  Worse yet, sometimes we know of specific cases where a patient had a bad outcome due to a missed test result.

Tests pending at discharge are a thorny issue with many different causes, possible interventions and outcomes.  Sometimes hospitals have robust mechanisms to capture culture results but otherwise have no mechanisms in place to address other tests,  In a 2018 article published in the Journal of Internal Medicine (see link) many issues and possible interventions are discussed.  Reading this article may help you consider different ways to address this difficult problem.  If tests pending at discharge are successfully addressed there will be a positive impact on readmissions, improved delivery of healthcare and reduced costs. 

CLICK HERE FOR PAPER- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5910344/

Andrew Fletcher

As the former medical director of ARUP Consultative Services, Dr. Andrew Fletcher is focused on laboratory stewardship, laboratory efficiency, and outreach growth. He has experience in leading quality initiatives that enhance organizations’ safety and value and has helped develop laboratory stewardship programs throughout the U.S. Dr. Fletcher has received numerous awards for quality and utilization, including research grants for blood utilization and is the recipient of the 2021 ASCP Choosing Wisely Award.

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