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Consensus Statement for the Management and Communication of High Risk Laboratory Results |
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| Authors: | Craig Campbell Grahame Caldwell Penelope Coates Robert Flatman Andrew Georgiou Andrea Rita Horvath Que Lam Hans Schneider |
| Institution: | 1.Department of Clinical Chemistry and Endocrinology, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, NSW Health Pathology, NSW;;2.Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, NSW;;3.Chemical Pathology, Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology, NSW;;4.Chemical Pathology, South Australia Pathology, SA;;5.Biochemistry, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, Qld, Australia.;6.Austin Pathology, Vic., Australia.;7.Alfred Pathology Services, Vic., Australia. |
| Abstract: | Ineffective test follow-up is a major source of harm for patients around the world. Unreliable communication from medical laboratories (henceforth termed ‘laboratories’) to clinicians of results that represent critical or significant risk to patients (collectively termed ‘high risk results’) is a contributing factor to this problem. Throughout Australasia, management practices for such results vary considerably. The recommendations presented in this document are based on best practice derived from the published literature and follow consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. These recommendations were created to harmonise Australasian practices by guiding laboratories in the design and implementation of safe and effective communication procedures for managing high risk results which require timely notification. |
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