Mercy Clinics’ reporting of lab results to patients is a process that is highly variable between clinics and even within clinics. Most MCI clinics do not have a single standardized process for returning lab results to their patients. A survey of MCI clinics found the following results:

• Only 38% of clinics utilize the same lab results reporting process for all providers in the clinic.
• Methods used to report lab results
  • Call only abnormal results – 3 clinics
  • Call all lab results – 9 clinics
  • Patient calls for results –4 clinics
  • Phone retrieval systems – 2 clinics
  • Mailed results – 1 clinic

The MCI Quality Committee believes that reducing this variation will:

• Reduce opportunities for error
• Reduce costs
• Improve patient and staff satisfaction

The MCI Quality Committee and EGC Recommends:

1. That each clinic uses only one process, for all providers, when notifying patients of  lab results.
   1. Clinic Managers should submit a written plan for their clinic’s lab results reporting.
2. All lab results, normal and abnormal, should be communicated back to patients in a timely manner.