Notifying Patients of Results

Policy

When ordering a test or investigation, the clinician ensures the patient knows how and when they will find out the results.

At GPDocs Model Practice:

Q17

• We contact patients with the results of urgent tests as soon as possible.
• Patients are contacted with all significant test results or if any follow-up is needed.
• Normal results may be texted to patients.
• Warfarin anticoagulant patients are contacted by the practice by the end of the same working day for their INR results and warfarin anticoagulant dosage advice.
• Patients are welcome to phone the nurse regarding their results.         

Significant results should not be made available to the patient in ManageMyHealth until after they have discussed the result with a clinician.

When advising patients how to access test results, consider the impact of lack of access to systems or lower health literacy. If appropriate, increase efforts to contact the patient in person.

Reporting test results to patient

Document in Medtech all attempts to contact the patient.

Whenever a result is reported to a patient, the person delivering the result:

• documents the contact with patient in clinical notes
• books a consult if clinically appropriate.

Only clinical staff may discuss results with a patient, unless explicit permission is given to an administrator to discuss a result with a patient. Significant results are not given to patients without the clinician's authority.

If the patient is difficult to contact with test results, the effort made to contact them should be proportional to the significance and urgency of the result. If direct contact has been unsuccessful and the results are of clinical concern, send the patient a letter advising them of recommended action.