In today’s fast-paced practices, it’s not hard for labs, imaging results or referrals to slip through the cracks. But every missed result represents more than just a clerical oversight; it can be a patient safety risk, a compliance issue and a workflow breakdown.
The Problem with Missed ResultsMissed or unreviewed lab results aren’t just workflow hiccups; they carry serious consequences.
– Studies show 6.8% to 62% of lab results are not followed up on, depending on the setting and how “missed” is defined.
– This can lead to delayed diagnoses, compromised safety, compliance risks and malpractice exposure.
– Practices also face inefficiency, staff frustration and data integrity issues when results don’t land where they should.
The good news? MEDENT has built-in safeguards to help ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
One Inbox for EverythingMEDENT’s Orders & Results screen acts as a unified inbox for:
– Labs
– Diagnostic imaging
– General orders
– Documents
– Referrals
It displays items meeting your setup criteria from the last 30 days, based on the most recent status update (so even older orders that were recently updated will appear). Future-scheduled orders are also included if they meet the criteria.
Why does it matter? Instead of chasing results across multiple menus, providers and staff can review, track and act on all incoming items from one central place.
Resolve Exceptions Before They’re MissedWhen lab results can’t be automatically uploaded into a patient’s chart, MEDENT holds them in the Lab Results Exception Holding Tank.
Here’s how it works:
– Open exceptions = results waiting to be addressed.
– Errors may occur due to mismatched demographics, inactive accounts or other system flags.
– Once the error is corrected, results can be manually uploaded into the patient chart.
– Common issues include ANF (Account Not Found) or PTR (Patient Transferred/Released).
– Other exception types require MEDENT Lab Support’s help (per our FAQ guide).
Best practice: MEDENT recommends checking the holding tank at least once a week, more often if you have a high volume of labs. This prevents results from getting “stuck” outside the chart.
Why It MattersAbnormal results get reviewed, communicated, and acted on quickly.
One screen + exception safety net = fewer missed steps.
Clear audit trails and documented follow-ups reduce liability.
Exceptions resolved = accurate, complete patient charts.
The Bottom LineThink about it: How confident are you that every lab result in your practice makes it into the right chart and gets the right follow-up?
With MEDENT’s Orders & Results screen and Lab Results Exception Holding Tank, you can close the loop, protect your patients and strengthen your workflows.
