| All outpatient and referral
specimens must be accompanied by a fully completed laboratory requisition
which |
| has the requested tests clearly
indicated. If stat or routine is not indicated, test(s) will be
performed as routine. |
| |
| The requisition must include: |
| Patient's
name |
| Medical
record number |
| Current
patient number |
| Diagnosis |
| Name and
ID number of the requesting physician |
| Date and
time of sample collection |
| |
| The requisition must contain the
current patient location at the time the tests are requested. |
| Please use standard established
clinic acronyms. To establish or change a clinic acronym with the
laboratory, |
| contact Pamela Sparks at 543-5848.
|
| |
| Fax protocol for Hillcrest-based
outpatient Phlebotomy Services |
| Fax
machines are available, for the convenience of our customers, in both the
ACC Blood Drawing Room |
| and the
OPC Blood Drawing Room (near Emergency Department). |
| ACC Blood
Drawing Room fax: 543-6595
OPC Blood Drawing Room fax: 543-5453 |
| We intend for this fax protocol
to improve our level of service to your patients because all required
|
|
information will be available before your patients arrive for phlebotomy.
A completed laboratory |
|
requisition may be faxed to either blood drawing room whenever: |
|
1) The patient is not physically in the clinic and able to transport
written orders. |
|
2) The existing computer-based order entry system cannot be used
(future orders).
|
|
(fax should not be used in lieu of order entry system) verbal orders will
not be accepted.
|
| |
| A faxed requisition will be
accepted when the following information (printed or typed) is on the form: |
| 1)
Patients full name (last name first), medical record number and current
patient number. |
| 2)
Ordering physicians name and UCSD physician ID number (PID).
Physicians telephone number or |
|
pager number, address for referring physicians. |
| 3) Clinic
location (source). |
| 4) Patient
diagnosis or symptoms (icd-9 code). |
| 5) Tests
are clearly identified and marked either stat or routine. |
| 6) Sample
type (blood, urine, peak/trough etc.) Is indicated. |
| 7) Fax
cover sheet is used which clearly states: name of sender and phone number. |
| |
| Send the fax to the blood drawing
room where you expect the patient to present. Adherence to this fax |
| protocol will allow thelaboratory
staff to obtain the correct specimens, perform the testing, and |
| report results in a timely and
efficient manner withoutdelay and inconvenience to patients of UCSD Health
Care.
|
| |
| Stat Charge Policy: |
| Medicare does not
recognize so-called "stat charges" (i.e. additional charges levied to cover
the extra |
| expense associated
with performing a stat test). Thus, the UCSD Medical Center does not bill
medicare |
| for "stat charges."
|
| |
| Reflex Testing Policy: |
| In order
to provide necessary information for patient care, additional testing may be
required when |
| indicated by
the results of an initial, ordered test. Such reflex testing is
minimized and |
| performed by the
UCSD Medical Center Laboratories only when warranted. For example, |
| further testing to
identify specific drugs would be indicated by a positive drug screen. |
| All reflex
testing will be billed in addition to the initial, ordered test in
accordance |
| with proper billing
practices. Information about reflex testing may be found in this
on-line lab |
| user's guide for each
specific test or in the current annual physician notice. |
| Providers who perfer reflex
testing not be performed may contact the laboratory.
|
| Only tests that are
medically necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of a patient should be |
| ordered.
Medicare pays only for testing to treat or diagnose a patient.
|
| A patient condition
that requires ordering test(s)must be documented in the medical record and
|
| corresponding ICD-9
code(s) must be noted on lab requisitions.
|
| Medicare generally
does not cover routine screening tests.
|
| |
| All services outlined in this
laboratory reference guide will be provided to the skilled nursing facility/ |
| subacute unit utilizing the
policies and procedures as contained herein. |
| |
| |
| Add-on test request policy:
|
| The purpose of this policy
is to ensure that "add-on" requests for clinical laboratory tests are
|
| properly documented in
writing in accordance with medicare, medicaid and other federally funded
|
| payor guide lines. A
standardized laboratory requisition form will be utilized to "add-on" any |
| additional clinical laboratory
tests and must include the following elements: |
|
1. Ordering physician name, PID# and phone/pager number |
|
2. Patient demographics (addressograph stamp) |
|
3. ICD-9 code or diagnosis |
|
4. Additional test(s) requested |
|
5. Current date and time specimen added |
|
6. Indicate if it is a stat or routine request |
|
7. Date and time of initial specimen collection
|
| |
| Standing Order Policy: |
| This policy establishes a
protocol to ensure the consistent use of standing orders. |
| A standing order directs the
laboratory to perform that particular test(s) at specified intervals for |
| a defined time period
without having to get a new requisition form each time. |
| Verbal standing orders are
unacceptable. Standing orders must be renewed in writing every |
| 6 months and must be
submitted to the blood drawing rooms on the standing order requisition form |
| with all required
information completed. |
