Showing posts with label Medical Laboratory. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medical Laboratory. Show all posts

25 September 2018

Critical test results in laboratory – Policy and process for identification and communication


Medical laboratory and Imaging frequently come across critical results or finding of a patient’s diagnostic tests which requires immediate intervention from the doctor to bring the patient out of the criticality. Hence, a hospital must have a policy and procedure in place for identification and quick communication of such results. This posts describes critical test results in medical laboratory (Check critical findings in imaging–policy and procedure). 

Critical test results in laboratory are the findings in the lab tests of a patient which indicates that condition of the patient may be critical or even life-threatening.  Such results, when found shall urgently be informed to the treating physician of the patient so that required interventions can be carried out on time and patient can be saved from any possible adversities. To be able to do so, a hospital needs to have a well-developed process of ‘identification and urgent communication of critical test results in lab’. The process should be able to achieve following objectives.

1. Critical test results gets identified within the lab as soon as the test results are obtained
2. No critical test results gets missed from identification
3. Non-critical test results do not get identified as critical
4. The treating doctor of the concerned patients gets to know about the critical test result on an urgent basis

Any lapses in identification and/or communication of critical test results to concerned doctor may lead to severe consequences for patient, including death. Hence, in addition to the process, hospitals must have a policy that mandates compliance to this process by laboratory staff. Following points shall be taken into consideration for policy and system on identification and communication of critical test results in laboratory.

28 December 2017

Checklist of Pathology Laboratory and its quality indicators for NABH accreditation preparation

Pathology lab is expected to provide as accurate diagnosis as possible, within reasonable time frame and without compromising the safety of patient or its staff. To be able to do so, the lab is required to follow certain policies and processes. The NABH standards outlines following requirements for a medical laboratory in a hospital.