Summary of Results From Study Visits, Patient Survey, and Chart Audit
| Description | Office A | Office B | Office C | Office D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| a Tracking, results return to office, results to physician. | ||||
| b Results return to office, results to physician, physician signature. | ||||
| c Results return to office. | ||||
| Number of results management steps performed in an office that are regularly adhered to, No. (%) | 3/8 (37.5)a | 3/8 (37.5)b | 3/8 (37.5)a | 1/8 (12.5)c |
| Number of result management steps for which written protocols exist, No. (%) | 2/8 (25) | 0/8 (0) | 3/8 (37.5) | 0/8 (0) |
| Patient survey to assess laboratory testing notification and understanding | ||||
| Participants | ||||
| Survey response rate, No. (%) | 27/41 (66) | 8/17 (47) | 9/19 (47) | 19/31 (61) |
| Women, % | 81.3 | 62.5 | 67.0 | 89.0 |
| Mean age, y | 58.8 | 50.8 | 50.4 | 48.0 |
| Were you told what laboratory tests were being ordered? Yes/total returned, No. (%) | 26/27 (96) | 8/8 (100) | 9/9 (100) | 18/19 (95) |
| Have you received the results of the laboratory test? Yes/total returned, No. (%) | 27/27 (100) | 7/8 (87.5) | 9/9 (100) | 17/19 (89) |
| Were you given any instructions, advice or information about your test results? Yes/total returned, No. (%) | 18/27 (66) | 5/8 (62.5) | 8/9 (89) | 14/19 (74) |
| Chart audit to assess documentation of orders, results, and documentation | ||||
| Is there a test result in the chart for every order? Yes/number of tests ordered, No. (%) | 26/30 (87) | 55/57 (96) | 29/36 (81) | 37/41 (90) |
| Are the results located in the appropriate place in the chart yes/number of results, No. (%) | 29/31 (81) | 55/55 (100) | 29/30 (94) | 44/44 (100) |
| Is there a clinician signature on each result? Yes/number of results, No. (%) | 28/31 (90) | 55/55 (100) | 26/30 (87) | 34/44 (77) |
| Is there documentation in the chart of the clinician’s response to the result? Yes/number of results. No. (%) | 26/31 (84) | 45/55 (82) | 14/30 (47) | 33/44 (75) |
| Is there documentation that the patient was notified? Yes/number of results, No. (%) | 18/31 (58) | 47/55 (85) | 23/30 (77) | 35/44 (80) |
| Is there documentation that advice, recommendations or information were given to the patient about abnormal results? Yes/number of abnormal results, No. (%) | 5/15 (30) | 23/42 (55) | 5/18 (28) | 11/27 (41) |