blood drives and how they are suppose to notify you what you can and cannot do
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The Question:Is it the family doc'due south job to gather test results and explain the issue of those tests – blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays and CT scans – and offer options going forward? Every test I have had, the results are sent to my family dr., withal he says information technology is not his chore to explain it to me and offer solutions or options. One-half of the tests are missing or take not arrived at his office. There is no follow up. Every time I see him it is similar the first time but he has been my primary caregiver for 25 years.
The Answer: You raise a very good question: Whose task is it to communicate test results ordered past one physician and conducted by some other? If, as you lot point out, the test results go missing, you take no mode of knowing and may assume [wrongly] that there was a negative finding and all was well. It is for that reason, it is of import to ensure that the loop has been closed on every test upshot.
Co-ordinate to Jocelyn Charles, Chief of Family unit and Community Medicine at Sunnybrook, a md who orders a examination – for blood, ultrasound, Ten-rays or CT scans – is responsible for responding to aberrant results and communicating these results to the patient.
"Specialists are expected to communicate their assessments, exam results and recommendations to the patient and the patient's family unit medico," wrote Dr. Charles in an email. "The family unit physician can only discuss results from specialists if they are forwarded to him/her, ideally with a recommendation nearly whatsoever farther investigations or handling."
Ultimately, it is the responsibleness of hospitals, laboratories, radiology facilities and specialists to ensure that family physicians receive results and information pertaining to their patients in a timely manner, she said.
As the family md has no way of knowing what tests were done by the specialist unless this was communicated to them, Dr. Charles suggested patients call their family medico earlier their appointment to ensure examination results have been received.
In addition, patients can request the specialist's office, hospital or laboratory to forrad the results to their family doctor prior to their appointment. Ideally, this should non be necessary, points out Dr. Charles, who said efforts are underway at her hospital to improve accountability for timely communication of information to family unit physicians.
Frank Martino, president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians, suggested patients remind the specialists that test results should be sent to the family md, providing the address if necessary right at the appointment time.
He pointed out that it is incumbent on him, as a family physician, to learn the results of any examination he has ordered on a patient.
"I have concerns about this patient's trouble not getting the results," said Dr. Martino. "And a physician who says it's not my job to explain things to yous. That's office of the human relationship."
Nonetheless, not every negative upshot – a examination that has normal findings – needs to be communicated. There are, however, exceptions to that rule: the test ordered was due to a screening test, a suspected cancer, a biopsy, a bad diagnosis such as diabetes or anemia or a condition where symptoms have persisted, suggesting the need for more and different medical investigations to aid aid in a diagnosis. In those cases, even though the test has not found anything, it'south vital for the physician to shut the loop.
"It'south extremely of import to communicate with your patient," said Dr. Martino. "If there's a particular test with a particular complaint, such equally genu pain, and then we go dorsum to the blackboard, and come upward with a plan for diagnosis."
Tracking results, he points out, is non a uncomplicated matter and he is particularly concerned about these missing test results you lot mention.
"What we hope is that physicians accept a process in place to reconcile test results that have been sent out to be done," said Dr. Martino, who is a fellow member of Queen Square Doctors family wellness team in Brampton. "And we hope that is a strong and fulsome system. Certainly, for critical results, in that location should exist a arrangement in place to reconcile those and act on them."
I, too, am specially concerned about your missing exam results and for that reason I would suggest you contact your family unit physician to follow up. That may also be a good time to discuss how you are able to larn of test results with abnormal findings. I would as well follow the advice of Dr. Charles and to call ahead of your appointment to ensure test results accept been received and to request the specialist, hospital or laboratory fax or send these results to your family doctor.
Lisa Priest is Sunnybrook'south Manager of Community Engagement & Patient Navigation. Her web log Personal Health Navigator provides advice and answers questions from patients and their families, relying heavily on medical and health experts. Her blog is reprinted on healthydebate.ca with the kind permission of Sunnybrook Wellness Sciences Centre. Send questions to AskLisa@sunnybrook.ca.
Source: https://healthydebate.ca/2012/12/topic/quality/test-results-whose-job-is-it-to-tell-the-patient/
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