Document Specimen Collection for Multiple Lab Orders at Once

Overview

It's now easier and faster to document specimen collection details for multiple lab orders.

 

Previously, if a provider or staff member collected multiple specimens from the same source (for example, a blood draw) at the same time, they would need to complete all fields within the collection details for each unique lab order or test, which was tedious and time consuming.

 

Now, you can apply specimen selections and details to multiple lab orders at once:

• At order entry — Through the Edit Labs feature, complete the new specimen collection fields for Office orders and apply those edits to multiple lab orders.

• On the order document — Complete the specimen collection fields and quickly apply your selections to additional lab orders.

 

For more details on what to expect with this change, see Workflow.

Benefits

This change can save providers and staff clicks and time and reduce the risk of errors when documenting and submitting orders.

 

We're making this change because you requested it. Keep those suggestions coming! Here are some of the original suggestions submitted in the Success Community:

• Lab Orders: Batch Submit In-House Labs Draws All At Once, Just Like External Labs Draws

• Specimen Collection: Enable Batching of Order Documentation

 

For more information about editing multiple lab orders, see "To apply changes to multiple lab orders at once" in the Assessment & Plan (A/P) Section article in O-help.

Workflow

Order entry

Occasionally, the provider who places the order also collects and documents the specimen.

 

Now, from the Assessment & Plan, you can document and apply specimen collection details for multiple lab orders through the Edit Labs feature. This feature allows you to apply the changes you make to one lab order to all selected lab orders in one action.

 

To open the Edit Labs view, add two or more lab orders to a diagnosis and click the EDIT LABS (#) link that appears:

 

At the top of the Edit Labs view, confirm the lab orders that you want to apply the specimen selections and details to:

 

From the new Specimen Collection field in the Edit Labs view, select Office to display the additional specimen collection fields:

 

Click Apply at the bottom of the Edit Labs view to save your changes.

 

For step-by-step directions, see To apply specimen collection details to multiple lab orders at order entry.

Order document view

Often, the provider signs lab orders and someone else at the practice collects and documents the specimen on the order documents.

 

Now, on an order document, you can quickly apply your specimen collection details to additional lab orders.

 

In the Specimen section of the order document, you can:

• Select the Specimen collection location.

• Enter the specimen details (click Document specimen to display the additional collection fields).

• Apply specimen details to additional lab orders.

 

 

To apply specimen details to additional lab orders, check the box marked Apply specimen selections and details to additional labs. (This option also notes the provider who signed the orders and the assigned user.)

 

You can also click SHOW LABS to display the additional lab orders before making any selections.

 

Each additional lab order signed by the provider appears on the order document. You can then select the lab orders that you want to apply the specimen selections to:

 

When you're ready, click Save at the bottom of the order document to apply the specimen collection details to each selected lab order.

 

For step-by-step directions, see To apply specimen collection details to multiple lab orders on the order document.

Lab orders with pre-existing and matching details

When you are applying specimen selections and details to additional lab orders, athenaOne indicates if there are lab orders with pre-existing specimen details that will be overridden if selected. athenaOne also indicates if any additional lab orders have specimen details that match the order you're currently viewing.

 

For lab orders with pre-existing specimen details, a yellow alert appears, and each applicable order displays a corresponding yellow bar:

To view the pre-existing specimen details, click the information icon  next to the order. A pop-up window appears:

 

For lab orders with specimen details that match the order you're currently viewing, a blue alert appears, and each applicable order displays a corresponding blue bar:

To apply specimen collection details to multiple lab orders at order entry

1. In the Exam stage of the patient encounter, click A/P in the navigation bar.

2. After you add two or more lab orders to a diagnosis, hover over one of the orders or click an order to display the details. The EDIT LABS (#) link appears.

3. Click EDIT LABS (#) to display and update fields in the lab orders (the number in parentheses indicates the number of lab orders).

4. By default, edits apply to all lab orders in the group. To close the Edit Labs view without making changes, click CANCEL.

5. Remove the checkmark for any labs that you do not want to change.

6. Specimen Collection — Select Office. Additional fields appear.

7. Complete the specimen collection fields.

8. Click Apply.

To apply specimen collection details to multiple lab orders on the order document

1. Locate and open the lab order document:

   • From the Clinical Inbox.

   • Using the Find tab in the patient chart.

   • In the Assessment & Plan.

2. In the Specimen section of the order document, document the specimen collection details for an lab order.

   1. Specimen collection — Select the collection location.

   2. Specimen details — Click Document specimen. Additional fields appear.

   3. Complete the specimen collection fields.

   Tip: You do not need to complete these fields first to access the option for applying specimen details to additional labs. That option is available by default.

3. Check the box marked Apply specimen selections and details to additional labs. This option notes the provider who assigned the order and the assigned user.

4. Select the additional labs that you want to apply the specimen selections and details to.

    

   Note: athenaOne indicates if there are lab orders with pre-existing specimen details that will be overridden if selected. athenaOne also indicates if any additional lab orders have specimen details that match the order you're currently viewing. To view the pre-existing specimen details, click the information icon .

   

5. At the bottom of the document, click Save.