How does your dr. handle test results?

[Carrie12345]

I'm wondering exactly how stupid I am.

 

I'm used to drs./mws calling to report a problem with test results (or schedule an appt. to discuss them) or use the "no news is good news" approach.

 

My 7yo had a renal ultrasound 7/20-somethingth after a urine test in-office. The office sample came back nearly clean, but was sent to the lab for further testing.

 

All this time, I'm figuring everything came back okay. Then dd complained of pain again this morning. So I call the ped office and leave a message. They call me back with all sorts of questions, because it seems the results weren't in her file (?).

Eventually, the dr. calls me back himself. He says the urine test did come back with bacteria, and the u/s showed a thickening of the bladder wall. He called in a script for abx, and wants to see her in 12 days.

 

So... Did I drop the ball? Did the dr. drop the ball? Or are we both equal jerks?

 

If it matters, we've been trying to figure out what's causing her pain for several months now. This wasn't a random thing.

[BikeBookBread]

I've had test results handled several ways. Some military base clinics require me to call in to obtain results, and some clinics call me with the results.

[shinyhappypeople]

I'm wondering exactly how stupid I am.

 

 

So... Did I drop the ball? Did the dr. drop the ball? Or are we both equal jerks?

 

If it matters, we've been trying to figure out what's causing her pain for several months now. This wasn't a random thing.

 

The doctor's office dropped the ball. Not your fault AT ALL.

 

Hope your daughter feels better soon. :grouphug:

[Impish]

I vote for Dr dropped it.

 

I've often seen 'No news is good news' posters at Drs offices, as in, they only call if there is a problem. If you don't get a call, its all good. The staff simply doesn't have enough hours in the day to make all the calls it would have to if they called for everything.

[*********]

I'm wondering exactly how stupid I am.

 

I'm used to drs./mws calling to report a problem with test results (or schedule an appt. to discuss them) or use the "no news is good news" approach.

 

My 7yo had a renal ultrasound 7/20-somethingth after a urine test in-office. The office sample came back nearly clean, but was sent to the lab for further testing.

 

All this time, I'm figuring everything came back okay. Then dd complained of pain again this morning. So I call the ped office and leave a message. They call me back with all sorts of questions, because it seems the results weren't in her file (?).

Eventually, the dr. calls me back himself. He says the urine test did come back with bacteria, and the u/s showed a thickening of the bladder wall. He called in a script for abx, and wants to see her in 12 days.

 

So... Did I drop the ball? Did the dr. drop the ball? Or are we both equal jerks?

 

If it matters, we've been trying to figure out what's causing her pain for several months now. This wasn't a random thing.

 

Your doctor's office should have called if there was anything in the test results to discuss with you.

 

In my experience, if the test results come back 'normal', they don't call. If there's something 'abnormal', the dr's office calls, and either calls in a script, or sets up a follow up appt, or refers to a specialist, etc.

 

IMO, your dr's office dropped the ball.

[Pretty in Pink]

The only time I have been responsible for calling to obtain lab results was with pap results. Even then, I do receive a postcard in the mail saying whether the results were normal or atypical; if I want the results sooner, however, I can call.

 

I vote that your physician dropped the ball. For future reference, I *always* ask when the lab results will be in and what the procedure is for obtaining those results.

[JoyfulMama]

The doctor's office dropped the ball. Not your fault AT ALL.

 

Hope your daughter feels better soon. :grouphug:

 

I'd have to say the lab dropped the ball. If the test was done and sent to the lab, it is their responsibility to communicate the results or any problems in obtaining results back to the ordering doc. If the doc had received the results and not done anything about them, then they would have dropped the ball.

Traditional flow: Doc prescribe tests. Patient has to consent to testing by being present. (Not all ordered tests are completed, and some aren't done immediately.) Those who perform testing must get results back to doc. Doc then acts upon receiving of results, and contacts pt. SOME docs/offices/labs will say "Call your doc if you don't hear from them within x hours/days."

[Carrie12345]

Aw, I feel so much better!!!!! Well, in as much as I can in this situation!

 

I hate the fact that bacteria has probably been brewing for a good 2 weeks or so, and that kind of guilt sucks. I'm sure she'll feel better quickly, but I'm still eager to get to the bottom of this!

[Alice]

I'd ask your doctor what happened and see if you are satisfied with the explanation.

 

In our office, all lab results come to a nurse who checks them. If it's something urgent she will then let the doctor in the office know. If it's more routine she'll put it in a box that the doctor in the office goes through daily. With those the doctor will either do what needs to be done or put it in the personal box of the doc who ordered the test (if it's a normal result). Most of the time the doctor will then call the patient even if it's normal. We have this system since we have a lot of part-time docs and having so many check-points makes sure nothing gets missed.

 

Theoretically. I had a patient recently where one of the other docs in the office had ordered an Xray about 9 months ago. She didn't get a call and assumed the "no news is good news". We have no way of knowing when someone goes to get a test done so usually just rely on the results coming back rather than knowing to look for the results, if that makes sense. In this case the Xray place sent the results to a different office with a doctor with the same last name as our doctor. So we never saw them. The patient then came back in 9 months later for a check-up and mom asked me about the test, I looked and didn't see the results. We called the Xray place and got them. It turned out to be something that although not urgent, would have been better to know about.

 

So we've now instituted another checkpoint, we make copies of all xray and lab orders and put them in a book. Periodically the nurses will check the book and if there are things we've ordered that we haven't seen the resuutls of we will then follow up on why.

 

All that to say, I'd call and see if they have an explanation of why it was missed. It may be something like I described or it may be a more worrisome failure of communication. It sounds like they dropped the ball but whether or not you continue with them might depend on how they explain what happened and whether there is a plan to ensure it can't happen again.

 

I also always tell people now to call within one week of having the test done if they haven't heard from us. This is not to put the responsbility on them but to make sure we have yet another checkpoint and that they aren't just assuming no news is good news.

[JudoMom]

I'm voting for equal dropping.

 

The doctor's office should've called, but I also think you should've called them since you didn't hear back, especially since it's an ongoing issue. Doctor's offices are made up of people capable of making errors, and sometimes procedure isn't followed as it should be, so if I'm expecting results I've learned to call them if I don't hear from them in the specified time frame and I also request a copy of all test results be mailed to me. I do plan on letting my doctor know next time I've been in of two occasions where I've had his staff drop the ball on referrals and letting me know the results/follow up plan to tests, because I think he probably has no idea this has happened.

[Perry]

The doctor's office should call you with abnormal results. However, it is EXTREMELY common for things to fall through the cracks. I've seen some studies where up to 30% of abnormal results were never communicated to the patient.

 

 

Always, always, always call for test results. It shouldn't be that way, but it's not worth taking the chance of missing something important.

[Mommyof4ks]

Our clinic now calls no matter what the results are that way if you don't hear back then you know to call rather than assume it is ok. It was a mistake, no jerks on either side just mis-communication. I hope your dd feels better soon!

[NoPlaceLikeHome]

As a nurse I recommend making it your business to always ask about test results within a week of testing or sooner if there are any problems. I also ask the lab/testing facility to send me a copy of the result as well which you are entitled to. Normally the doctor is responsible but making it your business insures that things are not inadvertently missed IMHO:001_smile:

[LizzyBee]

My dr office usually calls or mails the results. If I don't hear anything, I will call them. The one time I didn't call, it turned out I had osteoporosis. The place that did my mammogram and bone density test had never sent the results to my dr, and we got a big run-around when we requested the results because the lab couldn't even find a record of having done the tests!