TY - JOUR
T1 - Follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium results in the ambulatory setting
T2 - Implications for patient safety
AU - Moore, Carlton R.
AU - Lin, Jenny J.
AU - O'Connor, Nicky
AU - Halm, Ethan A.
PY - 2006/3
Y1 - 2006/3
N2 - Failure to follow up outpatient test results in a timely manner is a growing patient safety concern. To investigate the follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in the ambulatory setting, the authors reviewed the medical records of all patients seen in a large primary care practice between September 1, 2003, and August 31, 2004, with potassium levels ≥5.8 mEq/L. Of the 12914 serum potassium tests performed, there were 109 cases of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in 86 patients. The median potassium level was 5.9 mEq/L (range, 5.8-7.3). More than half the patients were recalled to the clinic specifically for repeat testing; however, 25% of patients had no repeat tests until they were seen at routine follow-up visits. The median time to a repeat potassium level was 6 days (range, 0-445). Patients ≥65 years old had a lower likelihood of having repeat testing within 1 week (odds ratio = 0.38, P = .03).
AB - Failure to follow up outpatient test results in a timely manner is a growing patient safety concern. To investigate the follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in the ambulatory setting, the authors reviewed the medical records of all patients seen in a large primary care practice between September 1, 2003, and August 31, 2004, with potassium levels ≥5.8 mEq/L. Of the 12914 serum potassium tests performed, there were 109 cases of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in 86 patients. The median potassium level was 5.9 mEq/L (range, 5.8-7.3). More than half the patients were recalled to the clinic specifically for repeat testing; however, 25% of patients had no repeat tests until they were seen at routine follow-up visits. The median time to a repeat potassium level was 6 days (range, 0-445). Patients ≥65 years old had a lower likelihood of having repeat testing within 1 week (odds ratio = 0.38, P = .03).
KW - Ambulatory
KW - Follow-up
KW - Hyperkalemia
KW - Labs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33644871374&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1062860605285047
DO - 10.1177/1062860605285047
M3 - Article
C2 - 16533903
AN - SCOPUS:33644871374
SN - 1062-8606
VL - 21
SP - 115
EP - 124
JO - American Journal of Medical Quality
JF - American Journal of Medical Quality
IS - 2
ER -