Laboratory Results
One tremendous advantage of an electronic medical record over the traditional paper chart is in the area of lab results. Using a relational database, lab results can be displayed chronologically or alphabetically. ComChart™ can also limit the display to only the most recent test result for all the different tests that were ever ordered. Alternatively, ComChart™ can limit the display to a single test name (e.g.: serial hematocrits) in chronological order.
Lab results file
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If a patient has a large number of lab tests on file, it is often difficult to determine if the patient has already had a particular test done in the distant past. ComChart™ has been programmed to enable the user to easily determine if particular test result is buried within a large volume of data. For example, if you want to know whether a patient every had a ANA done, you need only click on the "test name" button and type "ANA."
When certain lab results are automatically filed in ComChart™ (Hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, TSH, prothrombin time/INR), a record of the name and dose of the corresponding medications (diabetic medications, statins, thyroid medicine, and warfarin) which the patient is taking at the time the lab data was filed will be added to the test results in the comments column. Thus, one can quickly determine what dose of levothyroxine/warfarin/statin a patient was taking when they had their TSH/INR/cholesterol measured. Two examples are shown below.
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Lipid table
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CBC table
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Electrolytes table
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In addition, ComChart™ can easily be configured so that the name and date of individual lab tests are automatically recorded in the patient's flow sheet. This is accomplished by simply entering the name of the desire test as a line in the patient's flow sheet. Henceforth, everytime a lab result is automatically filed by ComChart™ in the patient's lab file, the test name and date will also added to the patient's flow sheet. One can then make this added test part of the routine health maintenance protocol so that it gets kicked-out as past due if a new test result is not filed at the appropriate frequency.
Using the "Show only abnormal labs" button, ComChart will display only the patient's abnormal test results.
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All radiology test names and date of tests are automatically added to the patient's flow sheet.
ComChart™ enables manual entry of lab results
Although ComChart™ is design to automatically file lab results, the lab module allows the user to create a template of lab test results which helps to facility the manual entry of lab results. The user need only click on the button, shown below, "Test name and facility:" and an empty template of the desired test results is entered into the patient's lab file. The user then need only enter the test results.
Layout for manually entering lab results. (ComChart™ is designed to automatically file lab results that have been recieved electronically.)
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ComChart™ tracks outstanding test results
ComChart™ maintains a record of all diagnostic tests which have not returned to the health care provider. This feature can be used to present a list of all mammograms or CBCs (or any other test name) which was ordered (before, after or on a given date) and whose results have not been received in your office. ComChart™ will even automatically print letters and envelopes to remind your patients that you have not received their test result and that they should call your office.
