Might a current user elaborate further on the work flow with the bidirectional Quest lab orders?
I'm trying to understand if this might be practical for my practice, or add more time than it is worth.
My current workflow for ordering labs is:
...MostRecentEncounter/WriteOrders
...Labs
...Click on one or more from custom library of tests I created or edited from defaults that come with AC (e.g. CBC with diff)
...PrintOrders
...PrintIcon
...DropDownBoxArrow
...Click on Hardcopy Printer
...OK
...Save
9 clicks total. Tell patient to pick up hardcopy lab slip from receptionist on way out. Quest knows nothing about order until patient shows up at lab with hardcopy of requisition. Patients lose hardcopy requisitions sometimes.
There was another post here: "Amazing Charts ? Forums ? Discussions ? General Discussion ? Can AC send Lab orders electronically to Quest Labs?" that suggested users activating the bidirectional interface then have to take one or more actions in their browser window on Quest's Care360 website to complete the lab order.
Can anyone elaborate, particularly on the number of additional clicks or data fields that must be completed?
Does the browser open automatically and log you onto Quest automatically and open the patient record automatically and open the requisition automatically, or are these all user tasks that must be added to the work flow?
Does it save the order to the EncounterNote automatically?
Does it print or e-mail anything to the patient to remind them labs have been ordered and to go to the lab?
If so, does it do so immediately for labs intended to be done now, and at a future date for labs intended to be drawn 1 week before a 3 month return visit?
If you haven't pre-loaded a rarely used test into your AC order set, does the interface allow you to search in AC for the one you want (for example "pertussis" returns 7 choices of tests on Quest's website)?
Thanks.
