When you haven't yet digitized the request for lab tests, lab orders require various repetitive, manual actions. These actions add up considerably when multiple order sets need to be scheduled - for example, specific disease states require multiple lab tests to be performed at certain intervals. Protocols can help here.
A protocol? What does that entail?
Within the Lab24 module, it is possible to configure protocols. As a healthcare provider, you can then simply select a protocol to run a whole series of lab tests (consisting of one or more order sets). The determinations to be tested for (the order sets) are predefined, as are the frequency and interval of the tests. This obviously saves an enormous amount of time.
The caregiver maintains oversight and control
The caregiver associated with the patient for whom the order sets were requested will receive during the duration of the protocol notifications about the progress - both when an examination is scheduled and when results are received.
In the patient's file, their protocols also include a visual overview of the timeline of the protocol (or multiple protocols) set up for the patient. This looks as follows:
At the top is the legend of colored lines. These represent different order sets. On the vertical axis we see the different parts of the protocols and on the horizontal axis the timeline. This also makes it easy to see which investigations overlap with each other.
Your organisation decides
We know that how an order set ideally runs can vary from one healthcare organization to another. Therefore, your organisation determines how the protocols are set up. For example, for each protocol there is setting:
-
What order sets should be in the protocol, with what provisions.
-
Whether additional information should be included in the notification to the requestor.
-
How many days in advance the caregiver should receive notification.
-
The starting point of an initial investigation.
-
Frequency of examinations.
-
The interval of examinations.
-
Whether there is a regular requestor for the protocols (e.g., always the treating health care provider).
Interesting?
Do you think your healthcare organization would benefit from setting up protocols for lab testing? We would be happy to discuss the ideal setup with you.