Wayne:

I think that's a great idea, but in the meantime, I'm going to suggest another workaround! (Blame Bert; he's the one who got me hooked on finding workarounds).

1. Set up an account for the user who is in the lab (I will call it "Lab").
2. For this to work, you have to make sure the patient's chart is closed. If you are ordering lab during an encounter, you will have to forward the chart to yourself until you are done ordering lab, or else sign off on the chart before ordering.
3. With chart closed, bring up their name on the Patient List.
4. Right-click on their name on the Patient List, and choose "Print Order/Requisition Slip."
5. Select "Lab" (or whoever) from the "Ordering Provider" drop-down box, type the lab order, and click "Save without Printing."
6. A notification will appear in the "Lab" mailbox.

Try it out and see what you think. Let me know if this is not clear.

Again, I think it would be superior if we could email the order from within the patient encounter, but this does work.

(By the way - about faxes - I wish we could e-mail all referrals, and add one of those thingies where people have to send you a notification that they read the email).


Brian Cotner, M.D.
Family Practice