 Effective Practice
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- Office staff uses the electronic scheduling system to automatically book follow-up appointments to address abnormal test results
- Patients are sent written notification of an office-assigned follow-up appointment
- The patient is able to reschedule this appointment if the date/time is inconvenient
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Benefits: - By creating a place holder for follow-up appointments the office can track patients who require follow-up
- Enhance coordinator and continuity of care for patients deemed to be at risk
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In practice at: Gynecology Partners (NWH)
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Effective Practice
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- Provider schedules a telephone call to the patient one week after a potentially concerning test
- Provider reviews test results with the patient and documents the conversation directly into the medical record
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Benefits: - Ensures provider follow up and discussion of test results with patient
- Allows for provider documentation of follow-up
- Enhanced by an electronic system that allows scheduling of appointments and documentation
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In practice at: Wellesley (HVMA), Copley (HVMA)
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Effective Practice
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Documentation of abnormal result includes:
- The test result slip
- In the note
- Retaining a copy of the notification letter sent to the patient
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Benefits: - Demonstrates that the provider reviewed, and the patient is aware of, the follow-up plan
- Defensibility
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Common practice
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