iKnowMed Generation 2 Automatic Lab Result Release Frequently Asked Questions
September 2021
To ensure patients have timely access to results as required in the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act), the iKnowMedSM Generation 2 version 3.0.25 release will support immediate availability of lab results to patients via the patient portals.
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An active patient-specific chart alert is set, where no results are released to that patient until reviewed.
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Practices have designated, at the test level, specific tests to be held until reviewed pursuant to state law requirements. All results of the designated type will be held for all patients until the physician reviews them.
If either of these exceptions apply, the result will not be available to patients via the practice’s patient portal until the physician reviews it. In the physician review queue, it will clearly state that the results that fall under the exceptions will be sent to the portal once reviewed.
When will Ontada release iKnowMed Version 3.0.25?
Currently, version 3.0.25 is slated for release on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021.
When can practices begin setting chart alerts and test-level designations for withholding results for a patient?
Now. Practices are encouraged to begin designating types of tests that should be withheld for all patients pursuant to state law. They may also create patient-specific chart alerts if there is a risk of substantial harm, before the release of 3.0.25.
When will the chart alert for withholding results for a patient go into effect?
This chart alert will hold results from the patient portal following the release of version 3.0.25. Following the release of version 3.0.25, patients without this chart alert will have their results released automatically to the patient portal.
Why was the chart alert for withholding results for a patient created?
The active patient chart alert exception was created to support the “preventing harm” Information Blocking Exception in the Cures Act. A patient’s chart can be updated to include a “Do not release results until reviewed” chart alert.
How do I create a chart alert to withhold results for a specific patient?
See step-by-step guidance in the 3.0.24 release notes.
How do I modify a chart alert that withholds results for a specific patient?
Need to modify the alert? Follow the same steps you would take to modify any chart alert, by checking the alert box and click EDIT, REMOVE, or AUDIT HISTORY.
How do I designate specific tests to be held for review at the practice level?
See step-by-step guidance in the 3.0.22 release notes.
Will physicians need to adopt a completely different workflow once version 3.0.25 is released?
No. The workflows will remain the same.
What will change for physician queues and worklists?
Results will continue to appear in the Unified Sign Queue, Lab Worklist and Imaging Worklist. This includes those results considered exceptions. A new visual indicator will be in the queue noting results that meet the exceptions have not been released to the patient and will be released to the patient portal after review.
Will patients suddenly have more results available to them than before the release of 3.0.25?
No. The same results will be available to patients after the 3.0.25 release as before. The difference will be that those lab results will be accessible in the patient portal more rapidly, i.e., without waiting for physician review.
What will change for patients?
For most results, patients will have access to results sooner as there will be no delay waiting for physicians to review results. The My Care Plus and Navigating Care patient portals will continue to send courtesy notification messages to the patient once a new result is available to review.
Why can practices select a type of test that should be held until physician review?
This feature allows practices to specify specific tests that should be held until reviewed to meet state laws across the country.
What types of results will be automatically released to the patient portal?
For the release of version 3.0.25, lab results will automatically be released to the patient portal.
Are imaging results automatically released?
No, only lab results will be automatically released to the patient portal.
Which iKnowMed Generation 2 user roles have permission to select the tests to be held until review at the practice level?
Users with full permissions to Lab/Imaging & Services, under the Permissions> Manage Menu, will be able to flag tests to be held at the practice level until reviewed by a physician.
For results that fall under the chart alert or practice designated test type exceptions, can they be reviewed and released from the iKnowMed Mobile app?
Yes. Lab results will continue to be automatically released or withheld until reviewed.
