Policy Update: Reporting Critical Labs and Tests

• When notified of a critical lab or test, record it in the pt record. Record the date and time info was received, and read back the information to verify.
• Report this information immediately to the pt's primary RN.
• RN must notify MD in a timely manner as dictated by nursing judgment, but within 2 hrs. Do not leave the critical value on an answering machine or give to the answering service. It is OK to relay the critical value to office staff. Ask the person receiving the result to "read back" the result to ensure that it was heard correctly. Document the date, time, and the name of the person the message was given to. A call back from the MD is expected within 30 min.
• For EKGs, MD is to be notified stat if the machine reading says AMI, VF, or VT. (Did I really just write that? You can thank Captain Obvious for this one.)
• Critical diagnostic imaging results will be communicated from radiologist to MD. Exams ordered stat will be called right away, those ordered with "call report" will be called within 2 hrs. If you are concerned about a critical result when a test is ordered in Meditech, be sure to enter "notify physician of results" in the comments section.

Reference: Guideline: Reporting of Critical Test & Results, # 2.120