As part of the Connect Care Results Routing Optimization work, duplicative lab order merge is live as of July 22. When a requisition for the same test is submitted by two or more providers, Alberta Precision Labs (APL) is now merging those duplicative orders whenever possible, instead of collecting separate specimens for requisitions that ask for the same tests.
Labs will only collect enough blood for one test, and the results will be sent to all providers who ordered the test. As a result, patients will have less blood drawn and may see shorter wait times.
Community providers will notice that they will be listed as an Authorizing Provider or Coordination of Care Recipient on result documentation, simply to note that there is more than one provider ordering the tests.
All providers who order the test results remain clinically responsible for the results, and all ordering providers will get a call from APL about critical test results.
For details, see the Community Provider FAQ.
