Creating a diagnostic order for a patient

Creating a Diagnostic Order for a Patient

When a patient needs a diagnostic test or imaging study, you create a diagnostic order in the system. This tells the laboratory or imaging department what tests the patient needs and ensures results are linked to the patient's record.

Before you start

• The patient must already exist in the system.
• You need permission to create diagnostic orders (typically available to doctors, nurses, and lab coordinators).
• Know which test(s) or imaging modality the patient needs (e.g., X-ray, blood test, ultrasound).
• If the patient has multiple medical cases, you may need to link the order to the relevant case.

Steps

1. Navigate to the Diagnostics & Laboratory section. Open in Usystems

2. Find and click the option to create a new diagnostic order (often labeled "New Order" or "Create Order").

3. Select the patient from the contact or patient list. You can search by name or ID.

4. Choose the test or imaging modality:

   • For laboratory tests: select from available tests (blood work, urinalysis, etc.).
   • For imaging: choose the imaging type (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, EEG, endoscopy).

5. (Optional) Link to a medical case if the order relates to an ongoing case or consultation.

6. Add any clinical notes or special instructions that the lab or imaging technician should know (e.g., fasting required, contrast allergy).

7. Review your entries and click Save or Create Order.

8. The order is now in the system and typically marked as "Pending" until the lab or imaging team completes the study.

What happens next

• The lab or imaging department can see the pending order in their queue.
• Once the study is completed and results are available, they will enter the results into the system.
• Results are linked to the patient's record and may trigger notifications if configured.

Tips & common mistakes

• Be specific: include relevant clinical history or symptoms in the notes field so the lab has full context.
• Double-check the patient: verify you selected the correct patient before saving.
• Know your modality options: some facilities may not offer all imaging types; check what is available at your location.
• Follow up: if results take longer than expected, check the order status to see if clarification is needed.