Test Results - Chronic Critical Values Definition
When a patient has a chronic condition, such as end stage renal failure, and the lab values are "critical" by our hospital's definition but are expected - or "normal" - for that particular patient, the lab and nursing staff find themselves calling the same physician several times a day to report these values when it really isn't necessary. Can we develop a policy for patients with certain chronic conditions that will allow the physician to define the "critical" levels of the lab values that should be reported for a specific patient?
Any examples are for illustrative purposes only.
Each health care organization may define for itself what constitutes "critical values". Provisions may be made for certain patient-specific situations in which values that would be "critical" for most patients are not critical for a particular patient or for patients with a particular diagnosis. The parameters must be objectively defined and are known to all staff who are involved in the process of reporting values.
Each health care organization may define for itself what constitutes "critical values". Provisions may be made for certain patient-specific situations in which values that would be "critical" for most patients are not critical for a particular patient or for patients with a particular diagnosis. The parameters must be objectively defined and are known to all staff who are involved in the process of reporting values.
Manual:
Laboratory
Chapter:
National Patient Safety Goals NPSG
First published date: April 11, 2016
This Standards FAQ was first published on this date.
This page was last updated on October 17, 2023
with update notes of: Editorial changes only
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