Receiving results of tests should be within a reasonable amount of time.

Obtaining a copy of your tests results ensures what you are told is accurate.

advocates 4 quality delivery of patient care

encouraging consumers to increase their awareness in order to prevent medical errors.

Give me my tests results - and, in a timely manner, please

 

DO YOU KNOW THE RESULTS OF YOUR MEDICAL TESTS?

All to often, we, the consumer (patient) hear these words, "If you don’t hear anything, it means the tests are okay, or if you don’t get a call everything is fine."

Great ! Nothing to worry about, except...................What if the test results are lost or never communicated (phone or in writing) to my doctor? What if there is a mistake and my results are given to another patient, or placed in another patient’s chart? What if the nurse or secretary, for whatever reason, misplaces the results? What if the doctor calls me and does not reach me and doesn’t call back? What if the doctor forgets? What if the results get lost on the doctor’s desk? What if? What if? And, what if?

Should we, the consumer, be concerned about our test(s) results? Indeed we should. The ‘what ifs’ are what we need to be worried about. We can’t take for granted that our healthcare system is perfect, for reality says it is not.

It is a smooth running internal process of the healthcare system, when the physician orders a test for a patient, and the patient receives the correct information, within a reasonable amount of time. However, it does happen and patients do receive erroneous information, i.e. another patient’s test results, not being notified of test result, or wrong information. Unfortunately, it is a reality of our health system.

What can we as consumers (patients) do to ensure that we receive results of our tests?

1. Ask the doctor when he/she will receive the results

2. Ask the doctor when he/she will contact you. Ask for time in days.

3. If you do not hear from the doctor (or nurse) by the time given to you,

call the doctor’s office and request the results of the

test(s).

And, yes, you can request a copy of your test result. Just ask.

Remember, different doctor’s offices and clinics have different internal systems in place to ensure patients are notified of test results. Nothing is perfect, nothing.

Most facilities have, in place, some type of quality control mechanism to oversee implemented policies and procedures.

I have known of many cases where the doctor has said if you don’t get a call everything is okay. Then, only to find out, everything was not okay. Every minutes counts when the results of a test  will have a negative impact on your well-being.

It is your body and you have the right to make sure your tests results are okay, or not okay.The old adage ‘better to be safe than sorry’ goes a long way in healthcare.. Safety comes not last, but first. It is your right ,as a patient, to be safe and receiving (accurate) reports from tests is only one part of being safe.

What is not safe care is when the patient receives test results other than their own or wrong information. Wrong information can lead to death. Harsh? Yes, indeed, it is harsh. However, it does happen. Often the results of tests indicate that a serious medical problem exists. These medical conditions can lead to a patient’s death and therefore, imperative that results are provided to the physician in a timely manner.

We, as consumers, do not have to assume our tests are okay, and, if we do not hear from the physician, with the results, we can call to obtain the information. In fact, we can request a copy of the test result. That is the only way, for sure, to know if the test is ours and the information provided to us is accurate. This might be a bit drastic, however, it is one way of keeping those who provide our care on their toes.

What happens, after we, the consumer, the patient, receive our results. Hopefully, the doctor gives us the options that are available. Treatment options, pros and cons of receiving treatment or not. It is our right to know all the avenues that we can, or might, travel to recovery. If our medical condition is terminal, we also need to know the roads we might travel as far as options related to treatment or not. It is our right and it is our body.

Remember, if you don’t hear..................call..........and, if you still don’t hear,,,,,,,,call again.

It is okay to request to speak with your doctor regarding tests results, normal or not.

It is my body, please tell me.........

It is my body, I need to know.....

It is my body, don’t lie to me.......

It is my body, tell me the truth.......

Regardless of how bad,

I need to know............

Regardless of the pain......

I need to know..........

Regardless of the tears..........

I need to know.............

It is my body................