Key Functionality

• Order Entry
• Provides access to all investigations the user may order for a selected patient.
• Available investigations are displayed as icons with text descriptions and arranged in columns across any number of order screens.
• Layout, content and number of order screens, is locally configured.
• User access to order screens is locally configured.
• My Order Preview
• A scratchpad area to list investigations that the user has selected for the current patient. This is a pre-view of what the order will contain.
• Order Details
• After making selection of investigations, further order details are entered before authorisation, including specimen collection information, clinical comments, and label printing.
• Investigations - Pathology
• Listed investigations for the selected patient, displayed in reverse date/time order with most recent items at the top.
• Summarised information about the investigation: type of investigation, requesting doctor, requesting location, abnormal result flag, current status, etc.
• Result Details – Pathology
• Details of the selected investigation result; this may be numeric or textual report depending upon the type of investigation.
• Cumulative Results
• Presents numeric results in either tabular or graphical format. In tabular mode, the six most recent results of a selection of investigations are shown.
• Profiles may be pre-configured to define the selection of investigations included, allowing the user may to scroll forward and backward in time, displaying the selected results within a block of six consecutive results.
• In graphical format, the results are displayed over a defined time period, which the user may then extend or contract; the available result data is plotted accordingly.
• Investigations – Clinical Imaging
• Listed investigations for the selected patient, displayed in reverse date/time order with most recent items at the top.
• Summarised information about the investigation: type of investigation, requesting doctor, requesting location, abnormal result flag, current status, etc.
• Result Details – Clinical Imaging
• Details of the selected investigation, which will always be a textual report.
• New Results
• Lists all recently reported investigations, in reverse date/time order, from all departments for all patients.
• List may be filtered by requesting location (ward, clinic, etc) or responsible clinician (typically consultant or GP).

The range of investigations which are available to order is determined by the healthcare organisation through local configuration of the system.

Benefits:

• Simplicity and ease of use as the system is web based.
• Flexibility through use of the web as authorised users can access the system irrespective of location.
• Assists with care delivery process as the system can be adapted to meet local needs and work practices; it is configurable to meet and support local HCO procedures for test ordering This includes guiding the user through ordering procedures so that appropriate tests are selected for the patient’s presenting condition.
• Reduces the risk of the user selecting the wrong patient for a request.
• Reduces the risk of the user selecting an incorrect source for the request.
• Reduces the risk of the user failing to enter all of the required investigations, or request inappropriate investigations.
• Reduces the risk of collecting incorrect or insufficient samples.
• Reduces the risk of supplying insufficient or illegible clinical information is supplied with the request.
• Cost savings resulting from:
  • Fewer repeat requests through improved checking procedures.
  • The order communications application is able to apply business logic to regulate requests.
  • Reduction of inappropriate and/or unnecessary tests following limitation and audit control.
• Immediate, intuitive and efficient access to up-to-date patient information using a standard web browser (IE6) to view and maintain data.
• Immediate access to supporting data through the use of the “drilling down” technique.
• Quick, intuitive and structured data entry ensured by the use of dialogue boxes containing drop down lists.
• Reduces training overload through the use of a Web based system.
• Rapid and easy deployment via local and wide area networking through the use of internet browsing technology.
• Reduces hardware requirements through the use of web functionality.