I think the issue of reconciling labs come from what the malpractice climate is in the state in which one may practice. I take a mandatory risk management course every couple of years to reduce my malpractice costs and I'm pretty sure that the idea of reconciling labs has come from there. I really don't like the idea of lawyers telling me what I need to do in the safe responsible practice of medicine. But without us doing it, they are. It is also quite surprising to me that after I spend and document considerable time explaining the importance and reasoning behind ordering the test, patients still just blow it off. I have had patient refuse to follow up on pulmonary nodules, breast mass, abnormal renal function, hematuria, etc.,etc,etc.
