Publications
A Study to Evaluate Perception and Implementation of Critical Alert Protocol Amongst Laboratory Personnel and Critical Care Team in a Tertiary Care Hospital
Arshad Alam, Anitha Devanath, Shubha Prakash Background: Critical value is an urgent notifiable result suggestive of immediate medical attention requirement within a defined timescale. Follow-up action reflects clinical effectiveness, patient safety and coordinated operational efficiency. To have an effective critical value reporting process, the organization must understand and address all the variables involved in the process. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the perception of critical alerts and audit its implementation by lab staff and critical care team. Aims and Objectives: To evaluate the perception of critical alerts and audit its implementation by lab staff and critical care team. Results: Although lab staff and critical care team were aware of critical alerts, there were major deficits in documentation. Auditing revealed 9.6% of critical results were not notified by lab staff. Subsequent retraining and re-auditing after six months revealed a decline in ‘missed-out’ critical alert notifications. Conclusion: Majority of lab staff and critical care team were aware of critical value reporting process. Although, there was a gap in the critical alert notification, it improved with monitoring. Frequent retraining and monitoring would be needed for continuous implementation of critical care protocol.
