Impact of an automated email notification system for results of tests pending at discharge: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objective

Physician awareness of the results of tests pending at discharge (TPADs) is poor. We developed an automated system that notifies responsible physicians of TPAD results via secure, network email. We sought to evaluate the impact of this system on self-reported awareness of TPAD results by responsible physicians, a necessary intermediary step to improve management of TPAD results.

Methods

We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial at a major hospital affiliated with an integrated healthcare delivery network in Boston, Massachusetts. Adult patients with TPADs who were discharged from inpatient general medicine and cardiology services were assigned to the intervention or usual care arm if their inpatient attending physician and primary care physi

SUBMITTER: Dalal AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3994865 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature