Lab Orders / Requests

The Lab Orders module is where you request laboratory tests for patients. This is where doctors and nurses order blood tests, urine tests, and other lab work needed for diagnosis and treatment.

Understanding Lab Orders

A Lab Order is a request for laboratory testing. It's like a prescription for lab work. When you order tests, the lab will process them and return results that you can review here.

Simple flow:

1. Doctor orders lab tests during a visit
2. Lab receives and processes the order
3. Results come back to this system
4. Doctor reviews results and takes action

The Lab Orders Page

When you open the Lab Orders section, you'll see all lab requests that have been made.

What You'll See:

1. Color-Coded Status Badges: Each order shows its status with colored badges:

   • Blue: Pending (ordered but not started)
   • Yellow: In Progress (lab is working on it)
   • Green: Completed (results are ready)
   • Red: Cancelled (order was cancelled)

2. Key Information Displayed:

   • Patient Name
   • Doctor who ordered the tests
   • Order Date & Time
   • Test Panel/Code (like "CBC" or "LFT")
   • Current Status

3. Status Legend: At the top of the table, a color guide helps you understand what each badge means.

Finding Lab Orders

Quick Search Options:

• Patient Name: Find all lab orders for a specific patient
• Doctor Name: See what tests a particular doctor ordered
• Test Code: Search by panel code like "CBC" or "U&E"
• Status: Find all pending or completed orders

Global Search (From Any Page):

Using the search bar at the top of the screen, you can:

1. Type a patient's name, MRN, or phone number
2. See results like: "Lab Order On Patient — John Smith"
3. Click to go directly to that lab order

Creating a New Lab Order

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Select the Visit

1. Click New Lab Order
2. In the "Visit" dropdown, start typing:
   • Visit number OR
   • Patient name
3. Select the correct visit
4. Automatic Fill: The patient will be automatically filled in!

Step 2: Fill Lab Order Details

Test Information:

• Panel / Test Code (Optional):
  • Enter test codes like: CBC, LFT, U&E, Glucose, etc.
  • This helps lab technicians identify what tests are needed

Order Status:

• Pending: Just ordered (default)
• In Progress: Lab is working on it
• Completed: Results are back
• Cancelled: Order won't be done

Order Date & Time:

• Automatically set to current time
• Can be adjusted if ordering for a different time

Step 3: Add Clinical Notes

• Notes Field:
  • Add any special instructions for the lab
  • Example: "Patient fasting since midnight"
  • Or: "Please prioritize - urgent case"
  • Use formatting tools for clarity

Understanding Statuses

Status	What It Means	What You Should Do
Pending	Order sent to lab, not started yet	Wait for lab to begin processing
In Progress	Lab is currently running the tests	Results should be available soon
Completed	All tests done, results are available	Review results and take action
Cancelled	Order was stopped before completion	No further action needed

Working with Lab Results

PLEASE NOTE THIS

You can only add lab results on lab orders that do not have a status of complete and cancelled.

Once a lab order is created, you can add individual test results to it.

How to Add Results:

From Lab Order View Page:

1. Find and open the lab order
2. Look for the "Lab Results" section/tab
3. Click "Add Result"

Filling Out a Lab Result:

Test Information:

• Analyte / Test Code: What's being measured (e.g., HGB, Glucose, WBC)
• Unit: Measurement unit (e.g., g/dL, mmol/L)
• Reference Range: Normal values (e.g., 4.5 – 11.0)

Result Values:

• Numeric Result: For numbers (e.g., 5.8, 120, 98.6)
• Text Result: For descriptions (e.g., "Positive", "Negative")

Result Status:

• Flag as Abnormal: Check this if result is outside normal range
• Result Date: When the result was finalized

Viewing and Managing Results

Results Table Shows:

• Test code and name
• Result value with units
• Normal/Abnormal flag
• Date result was received

Filtering Results:

• Show only abnormal results (flagged ones)
• Sort by date or test name
• Easily find what you're looking for

Actions You Can Take

On Each Lab Order:

• View: See full order details
• Edit: Update order information
• Delete: Remove order (goes to trash)

Bulk Actions (Multiple Orders):

1. Check boxes next to orders
2. Choose:
   • Delete Selected: Move to trash
   • Restore Selected: Bring back from trash
   • Force Delete: Permanently remove

How It Connects to Other Modules

Important Relationships:

• Visits: Every lab order must come from a patient visit
• Patients: Shows which patient the tests are for
• Billing: Completed lab orders may generate bills
• Medical Records: Results become part of patient history

Best Practices for Staff

Do:

1. Always link to a visit - this ensures proper patient context
2. Use clear test codes - helps lab technicians understand
3. Add clinical notes - especially for special instructions
4. Update status promptly - from Pending → In Progress → Completed
5. Flag abnormal results - makes them easy to spot

Don't:

1. Don't create lab orders without a visit - breaks the patient care chain
2. Don't forget to add results - incomplete orders don't help diagnosis
3. Don't leave status as "Pending" if tests are done
4. Don't skip reference ranges - doctors need to know what's normal

Common Tasks & How-to's

How to order routine blood work:

1. Open the patient's visit
2. Click to create new lab order
3. Enter test code: "CBC"
4. Add note: "Routine blood work"
5. Save - status automatically "Pending"

How to mark results as received:

1. Find the lab order
2. Click Edit
3. Change status from "In Progress" to "Completed"
4. Save
5. Now you can add individual test results

How to add a single test result:

1. Open completed lab order
2. Go to Lab Results section
3. Click "Add Result"
4. Fill: Test = "Glucose", Value = "98", Unit = "mg/dL"
5. Flag if abnormal
6. Save

How to find all pending lab orders:

1. Go to Lab Orders dashboard
2. Look for blue "Pending" badges
3. Or search by status
4. Contact lab about any that are taking too long

How to cancel an unnecessary order:

1. Open the lab order
2. Click Edit
3. Change status to "Cancelled"
4. Add note explaining why
5. Save

Quick Reference Guide

What you want to do	Steps to follow	Important Notes
Order new tests	New Order → Select Visit → Enter Details	Must link to a visit
Check if results are back	Look for green "Completed" badges	Then add individual results
Review abnormal results	Filter by "Flagged" in results table	Red flags need attention
Update order status	Edit order → Change status → Save	Keep this current
Add multiple results	Open order → Lab Results → Add multiple	Can add as many as needed

Troubleshooting

If you can't select a visit:

• Visit might not exist or was deleted
• Patient might need a visit recorded first
• Try refreshing the page

If status won't change to "Completed":

• Make sure you're in Edit mode
• Check that you have permission to update
• Contact admin if problem persists

If results won't save:

• Check that lab order status is Not "Completed"
• Make sure required fields are filled
• Numeric results need numbers only

If you don't see expected lab orders:

• Check date filters
• Look in trash if accidentally deleted
• Verify you're searching for correct patient

Time-Saving Tips

1. Use visit linking - fastest way to create orders
2. Save common test codes in your notes for quick copy-paste
3. Bulk update statuses at end of day
4. Flag abnormal results immediately so doctors see them first
5. Use global search instead of navigating to find orders

Quality Checklist

Before finalizing a lab order, ask:

• ✓ Is it linked to the correct visit?
• ✓ Are test codes clear and standard?
• ✓ Are clinical notes helpful to the lab?
• ✓ Is status set appropriately?
• ✓ Are all results entered (if completed)?
• ✓ Are abnormal results flagged?

Remember: Accurate lab orders lead to accurate diagnoses. Take the time to do it right!