Policy
The ordering clinician is responsible for following up on urgent test results. If they will not be available to receive results and take any necessary actions, they must delegate another clinician to do so. The ordering clinician should also check the results when they are next on duty.
Refer to Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand: Transfer of Care and Test Results Responsibility.
Where possible, only order urgent tests where the results will be received before the practice closes so they can be followed up appropriately. If results will not be available before practice close, provide the lab with either the ordering clinician's after hours phone number, or the contact details of the delegated clinician.
Make sure that the patient requiring the urgent test is contactable after-hours in the event of a critical result requiring immediate follow-up. Refer the patient to an after-hours clinic or the hospital if they require an urgent test but are not able to be followed up.
Incoming urgent test results are directed to the ordering clinician or their delegate as soon as possible and managed according to the results management procedure.