Critical Alerts

Provision of Critical Laboratory Value Alert to a Physician on Call

Scenario Details:  Toward the end of the day, David orders a CBC for Henry, a ward patient admitted from the clinic with new onset GI bleeding. He then proceeds with his other duties before finally checking out and going home.  Shortly thereafter, the laboratory results the CBC. The system identifies several knowledge modules to evaluate the results.  One module requires analysis of the 10 most recent hematocrit tests, which it then requests and subsequently obtains. This module is able to conclude that the hematocrit has been decreasing steadily, and that while still normal, has decreased sufficiently from baseline to be worrisome.  Given this evaluation, the DSS system checks the hospital duty roster, determines that Provider Kathy is now on call and covering David’s patients. The system pages Kathy with an alert regarding Henry’s hematocrit.

Actors: Physician (provider)/Covering Physician, Patient (Henry)

Requirements: