Health and Human Services has proposed that patients be provided with their test results directly from the lab. that performs the test.
Proposed changes to federal regulations would override existing laws in 20 states and give patients access to laboratory test results without having first to talk with the physicians who ordered the tests. The Dept. of Health and Human Services said its proposal would give patients more control over their health care information and make them better consumers.
Some physicians think that the changes would come at a cost. Life-altering test results delivered to the patient without the context of a doctor's explanation may increase patient anxiety and affect the physician-patient relationship, however it does makes them more responsible (not liable) to follow up with their doctors regarding abnormal test results.
One caveat, most do not know that a normal result does not rule out a disease process. It may in fact be more harmful as the patient may feel comfortable with having a normal test result and decide not to return to the physician for further diagnostic considerations.
Does this sound familiar?
How many times do we hear a patient getting a self prescribed mammogram without a physician breast exam and later diagnosed with advanced breast cancer as she felt comfortable that the density she felt during SBE was not significant because the mammogram was normal? How many times do we hear a PA or a NP order an EKG on a patient with chest symptoms and feel comfortable that the normal computer read out rules out an impending heart attack?
How many times do we hear a patient getting a self prescribed mammogram without a physician breast exam and later diagnosed with advanced breast cancer as she felt comfortable that the density she felt during SBE was not significant because the mammogram was normal? How many times do we hear a PA or a NP order an EKG on a patient with chest symptoms and feel comfortable that the normal computer read out rules out an impending heart attack?
Why not let the patients order their own lab tests at a "consumers lab" and decide if they need to see a doctor ? If people can log onto WEB MD and make a self diagnosis, why not let them order their own lab studies as well?
It sure will reduce the cost of health care in the US by eliminating the diagnostician from the equation!
Read the entire article in American Medical News:
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