Ideas That Work: Close the Pathology Loop

It’s one thing to log and track laboratory specimens and post their results in the patient’s chart. But that doesn’t confirm that the ordering healthcare provider read the results and discussed them with the patient. Remember, if it isn’t documented, it didn’t happen. To close the loop, we provide the physicians who ordered the specimen with a label that requires a signature and date to confirm that he received the results and discussed them with the patient. We request they place the label on all specimen results and forward them to us. If we receive a copy of the results, we affix the label and forward it to the office to complete and return.

Lori Pacheco, RN, CRNO
Cape Cod Eye Surgery & Laser Center
Sandwich, Mass.
[email protected]