title: [REPORTING CRITICAL LAB RESULTS, A CHALLENGE FOR THE LAB AND THE PHYSICIAN - A SUMMARY OF FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN MEIR MEDICAL CENTER LABORATORIES].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Critical laboratory results require prompt reporting to the attending physician, as they may indicate that a patient is in a life-threatening condition. Although this important subject has been covered in many publications, it needs more attention from our healthcare organizations, which have no official policy on the subject. Matching expectations between the doctor and the laboratory needs to be better defined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to inform the community of doctors and laboratories about the multiple problems concerning the reporting of critical laboratory results, to create a platform for exchanging views and ideas, and to build an extensive infrastructure for developing a unified plan to address this important issue.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the results of four years of experience of reporting critical laboratory values at the Meir Medical Center Laboratories. The idea leading this work was to present the relatively low rate of critical results reported by the laboratories in 2010, sharing the problems discovered while investigating the situation in depth, and presenting the solutions that enabled us to obtain the desired results within four years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gradual implementation of these improvements resulted in critical value reporting increasing from 55% in 2010 to 95% currently.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest a model for improving critical laboratory values reporting based on our 4-year experience, which emphasizes: (1) The importance of selecting proper tests and values for critical results; (2) The significance of using technology and computerized measures to support the process; and (3) Developing quick procedures for monitoring and controlling the process.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rashid
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goldman
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Tali
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tohami
authors.forename: Eran
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neumark
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010820:Physicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care