The view of a general practitioner on immediate access for patients to their laboratory test results - PubMed (nih.gov) [*see note below]
The increased health service capacity created by shared records and by the engagement of patients and families in care pathways was included in the WHO Patient safety working group discussions in Switzerland in September. A study on the efficacy of patient accessed records was published in 2018 and I have provided a link. The evidence suggested that patients used primary care services less. Previous studies referred to in the pa[per suggest that A and E and hospital services are used less too. Our gratitude is owed to Dr SarwarShah for writing the paper and analysing the data.
HIFA profile: Richard Fitton is a retired family doctor - GP. Professional interests: Health literacy, patient partnership of trust and implementation of healthcare with professionals, family and public involvement in the prevention of modern lifestyle diseases, patients using access to professional records to overcome confidentiality barriers to care, patients as part of the policing of the use of their patient data. Email address: richardpeterfitton7 AT gmail.com
[*Note from HIFA moderator (NPW):
Citation: Clin Chem Lab Med. 2019 Feb 25;57(3):375-382. doi: 10.1515/cclm-2018-0743.
The view of a general practitioner on immediate access for patients to their laboratory test results
Abstract
This position paper presents the role of laboratory test results in traditional general practice and provides a recommendation for responsible sharing of results with patients for improved safety, efficiency and outcomes. This paper looks at the relationship between the laboratory, the general practitioner consultation, the patient, safety and general practice capacity. We suggest changes in the traditional practice of communicating laboratory test results whereby normal or abnormal results are made available to patients as soon as they become available. We also endorse the opinion that using online tools such as email or text messages could enhance the provision of rapid access to laboratory test results for patients.
Selected extract: Online laboratory test result access with informed consent before the test is ordered, and particularly with continuing long-term problems, reduce visits to the GP surgery by allowing patients more time to access and to understand their results and how they will impact on their future care. The patient spends less time with health professionals.
The full text is available ehere:
https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/cclm-2018-0743/html ]
