The list below includes Critical Callbacks and Courtesy Callbacks/E-mails.

Critical results are defined as results that, if left untreated, could be life threatening or place the patient at serious risk. Critical results are those results from a clinical specimen that upon analysis are determined to be “critical” whether the specimen was submitted as a routine or stat specimen.

Critical test results will be communicated to a licensed caregiver within 30 minutes from the time the result is available in the laboratory.   Critical values that are reported to a non-licensed caregiver will be communicated to a licensed caregiver as rapidly as possible.

The laboratory in collaboration with the department or service involved in the monitor will monitor the time between the identification of a critical value to the time it is reported to a licensed caregiver. Ongoing organizational efforts will target improvement in the timeliness of critical value reporting.

Courtesy callbacks/E-mails are made in accordance with individual laboratory policy in an effort to improve clinical communication.