Accreditation

Critical test results read-back rules

Accreditation Connection, November 14, 2005

Yes, say Della Lin, MD, and Glenn D. Krasker, MHSA, authors of the HCPro book, The JCAHO 2005 and 2006 National Patient Safety Goals: Sucessful Strategies for Compliance.

The lab either contacts the physician directly, who then completes a read-back, or the lab calls the floor, which completes a read-back, and the floor nurse calls the physician, who should also give a read-back.

The Joint Commission expects that physicians will comply with the goals and standards, including read-backs. The commission won't check the physician's practice's records, but the hospital should ask for documentation of the read-back. If physicians are resistant to reading back critical test results, it may be wise to involve your hospital's leadership to emphasize the read-back's importance to and its inclusion in standard operating procedure at the facility.

Adapted from the November issue of Briefings on Patient Safety. To learn more about The JCAHO 2005 and 2006 National Patient Safety Goals book, you may call HCPro customer service at 877/727-1728.

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