To clarify Department of Pathology laboratory orders for the Epic CPOE go-live on May 2nd:

• Patient Identification labels with two patient identifiers for laboratory specimens will continue to be printed from either GE-IDX or Informm/IPR. Hand-written labels must contain the appropriate two identifiers per UIHC policy.
• Epic will print a paper requisition for all laboratory orders. This paper requisition must accompany all samples sent to Pathology. This requisition may be multiple pages. All pages must accompany the sample. The footer lists the number of pages as Page x of x. A new Laboratory Information System (LIS) will be implemented in the next two years. Our goal for that system is to be 100% electronic at that time. Laboratory orders should be entered into Epic starting 5/2/09. The only approved exception is intra-operative (patient is in the O.R.) NOTE: The laboratory will not “refuse to draw”, “refuse to perform testing”, or “delay care” in emergent or unusual situations. We recognize that during this period of dynamic change we may need to accept both the current hard-copy requisitions and well as orders printed on Epic requisition forms. We encourage the use of CPOE in Epic because it will provide the best use of the Epic functionality at UIHC.
• IPR Blood Administration tracking which utilizes bar code scanning for specimen collection, arrival, dispense and administration will continue to be used at 5/2/09 go-live. Additional Epic Blood Administration development is planned; once these have been completed and validated, we will transition to Epic for these tasks..
• Laboratory Charge Processing does not change as part of the Epic CPOE/Documentation go-live on 5/2/09.
  
  

Questions regarding Department of Pathology processes may be directed to:

• Dr. John Kemp, Director of Clinical Laboratories, 384-9611
• Sue Dane, Pathology Informatics Manager, 356-1748
• Kathy Eyres, Pathology – Epic Support 356-0353