Preparing for Electronic Labs

2011 AFHTO conference presentation PRESENTER (S): Katharine De Caire, RN (EC), MN; Katalin Ivanyi, MD, CCFP, FCFP FHT/ORG: McMaster FHT, Stonechurch Site ABSTRACT: Laboratory information systems are an important component of an electronic health record. The ability to electronically access laboratory test information assists health care providers to make faster, better patient care decisions, enables timely access to information, provides better coordination of care and improves workflow Shared care is the basis of a Family Health Team. In a shared care environment a team’s Physicians and Nurses are both accountable for managing patient lab results and these accountabilities need to be clearly defined, communicated, and documented. In 2011 Stonechurch Family Health Centre began to prepare for the implementation of electronic labs. Our team recognized that managing test results effectively is vital to quality patient care and a failure to follow up on test results can lead to patient harm. In this presentation we will highlight our team’s paper-based process for results management, discuss our journey to prepare for electronic labs and present our final plan. Click here to view presentation.