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Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Matheny, ME; Gandhi, TK; Orav, EJ; Ladak-Merchant, Z; Bates, DW; Kuperman, GJ; Poon, EG
Published in: Archives of internal medicine
November 2007

Few reliable and efficient systems support the communication of test results to outpatients, and this may lead to patient dissatisfaction with test result communication. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of physicians' use of a test results management tool embedded in an electronic health record on patient satisfaction with test result communication.A prospective, cluster-randomized, controlled trial of 570 patient encounters in 26 outpatient primary care practices was performed from December 1, 2002, to April 31, 2005. Physicians in the intervention practices were trained and given access to a physician test results management tool with imbedded patient notification functions to evaluate whether patient satisfaction with communication of test results ordered by the primary care provider was improved. Patient satisfaction surveys were conducted by telephone after the patient underwent the test and were administered before and after the intervention in both arms.The survey response rate after successful patient contact was 74.2% (570/768). After adjusting for patient age, sex, race, socioeconomic status, and insurance type, the intervention significantly increased patient satisfaction with test results communication (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-5.25; P = .03). In addition, patients in the postintervention group were more satisfied with information given them for medical treatments and conditions regarding their results (odds ratio, 3.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.30-9.17; P = .02).An automated test results management system can improve patient satisfaction with communication of test results ordered by their primary care provider and can improve patient satisfaction with the communication of information regarding their condition and treatment plans.

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Published In

Archives of internal medicine

DOI

EISSN

1538-3679

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

November 2007

Volume

167

Issue

20

Start / End Page

2233 / 2239

Related Subject Headings

  • Primary Health Care
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Patient Access to Records
  • Middle Aged
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Care Surveys
  • General & Internal Medicine
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Matheny, M. E., Gandhi, T. K., Orav, E. J., Ladak-Merchant, Z., Bates, D. W., Kuperman, G. J., & Poon, E. G. (2007). Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication. Archives of Internal Medicine, 167(20), 2233–2239. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.167.20.2233
Matheny, Michael E., Tejal K. Gandhi, E John Orav, Zahra Ladak-Merchant, David W. Bates, Gilad J. Kuperman, and Eric G. Poon. “Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication.Archives of Internal Medicine 167, no. 20 (November 2007): 2233–39. https://doi.org/10.1001/archinte.167.20.2233.
Matheny ME, Gandhi TK, Orav EJ, Ladak-Merchant Z, Bates DW, Kuperman GJ, et al. Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication. Archives of internal medicine. 2007 Nov;167(20):2233–9.
Matheny, Michael E., et al. “Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication.Archives of Internal Medicine, vol. 167, no. 20, Nov. 2007, pp. 2233–39. Epmc, doi:10.1001/archinte.167.20.2233.
Matheny ME, Gandhi TK, Orav EJ, Ladak-Merchant Z, Bates DW, Kuperman GJ, Poon EG. Impact of an automated test results management system on patients' satisfaction about test result communication. Archives of internal medicine. 2007 Nov;167(20):2233–2239.

Published In

Archives of internal medicine

DOI

EISSN

1538-3679

ISSN

0003-9926

Publication Date

November 2007

Volume

167

Issue

20

Start / End Page

2233 / 2239

Related Subject Headings

  • Primary Health Care
  • Physician-Patient Relations
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Patient Access to Records
  • Middle Aged
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Health Care Surveys
  • General & Internal Medicine