Viewing Patient results
Results in HealthTrack are viewed on the patient's medical record. A common point of confusion is looking for them on the Clinical Summary tab: the Clinical Summary gives you quick access to test ordering, but it does not display results. To read a result, go to the Clinical Records tab, and select the record under the relevant folder.
Only results that have been signed off appear on the record. If a result seems to be missing, it may still be waiting for review in the Incoming Documents Approval screen. See How to Approve Incoming Documents.
Open a result
- Open a patient's file, and navigate to the Clinical Records tab.
- Select the Pathology or Radiology section in the record navigation on the left.
- Open the result you want to read.
A pathology result opens with two tabs:
- Results: a structured view that lays the values out against a chosen set of tests, with units, reference ranges and abnormal highlighting.
- Detailed Results: the full detail as it arrived from the lab.
A radiology result displays the detailed report instead.
Compare results over time
To compare results over time, press the Compare button. This will display all clinical records of that type in Cumulative view, which lays the same test out across multiple collection dates in one grid.
This information can be viewed in a graph using the Graph or Custom Graph buttons. Hovering over points in the graph displays the specific values for that time point.
Abnormal result highlighting
In the single-result views, abnormal and out-of-range values are highlighted in colour. The highlighting is based on the abnormal flag and reference range the lab sent with the result. For example, a high value may show in salmon, a low value in blue and a normal value in green.
- The colours are configurable for each site, so two practices may colour the same flag differently.
- If the lab did not send an abnormal flag or a reference range, those columns do not display.
- There is no abnormal-only filter. Abnormal values are highlighted, not filtered.
The cumulative comparison grid does not colour abnormal values or show reference ranges. That highlighting appears in the single-result views only, so open the individual result to see it.
Radiology reports and documents
A radiology report arrives either as a text report, which you read in the detailed view, or as a document such as a PDF or scanned image, which opens in the document viewer. From the document viewer you can open the document or save a copy.
Access to a document can be restricted by document security. If you cannot open a report you expect to see, speak to your practice administrator about your access.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot find results on the Clinical Summary | Results live on the record, not the Clinical Summary | Open the results section in the record navigation |
| A result is missing from the record | It has not been signed off yet | Check the Incoming Documents Approval screen |
| No abnormal colours on a result | The lab did not send an abnormal flag or reference range | Check the Detailed Results tab for the values as they arrived |
| The cumulative grid shows no abnormal colours | By design, highlighting is on single-result views only | Open the individual result |
| The wrong set of tests is shown | The default pathology view does not suit | Select a different view, or update your default in your user preferences |
| Colours differ from another practice | Highlight colours are set per site | This is expected. Your practice administrator sets the colours |