SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Automating a Pending Labs List Into Discharge Summaries

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This study evaluated whether an EpicCare “Smart Link” that automatically inserts pending lab and pathology results into discharge summaries could improve communication at hospital discharge.<br /><br />The project used a pre-post design at a large urban academic medical center, reviewing general medicine discharge encounters over two 2-month periods. The Smart Link was added to the discharge summary template and defaulted for internal medicine residents and hospitalists. The main outcome was whether discharge summaries listed all pending labs. Secondary outcomes included whether discharges had any pending labs, whether pending labs later resulted abnormal, and whether follow-up notes documented those results.<br /><br />A total of 291 pre-intervention and 283 post-intervention discharge encounters were randomly selected for review. The proportion of discharges with at least one pending lab was similar before and after the intervention. However, documentation improved dramatically: discharge summaries listing all pending labs increased from 26.9% pre-intervention to 90.4% post-intervention, a statistically significant improvement. There was no significant change in follow-up notes documenting returned results overall, and only a non-significant trend toward better documentation of abnormal results.<br /><br />The authors conclude that embedding an automated pending-labs list directly into the discharge summary template is highly effective for improving discharge documentation, likely because it removes the need for manual entry. However, better discharge documentation alone did not improve post-discharge follow-up communication, suggesting that additional interventions are needed to ensure pending results are acted on after discharge. Potential next steps include improving discharge summary delivery to primary care clinicians and reviewing pending labs during post-discharge follow-up visits.

Asset Subtitle

Khanh T. Nguyen

Meta Tag

Author List Chukwunedum Aniemeka, Khanh T. Nguyen, Misha C. Tran, Nia Feaster

Category Research

Concept Discharge Summary

Concept Pending Test

Concept Transitional Care

Concept Smart Link

Concept Pre-Post Study Design

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Chicago

Presenting Author Khanh T. Nguyen

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

EpicCare

Smart Link

discharge summary

pending lab results

pathology results

hospital discharge

documentation improvement

pre-post study

follow-up communication

academic medical center

Discharge Summary

Pending Test

Transitional Care

Smart Link

Pre-Post Study Design