NHS England has released guidance highlighting principles around the automation of test result release in patient engagement portals, along with requirements around portal functionality.
As per the principles, all test results should be released to an individual via digital means when they have signed up to a patient engagement portal or the NHS App, and when a test is requested, conversation should include how and when the patient can expect to be notified of the result. When a new diagnosis is anticipated, clinical teams should form a “proactive plan for follow-up” within 21 days of results being made available to the team, and all organisations should have a process in place for the communication of abnormal results. Finally. NHSE states that if a clinician is concerned about a patient’s response upon receiving an automated result, they should discuss it with that person and/or their partner or carer, and consideration should be given to pausing access to the portal.
NHSE clarifies that portals should provide general information about tests, availability, result timeframes, and communication around abnormal results; signpost patients to further resources to help understanding of results; notify patients when tests have been ordered; and present quantitative results to enable review along with trend views of repeat tests.
Regarding functionality, healthcare professionals should be able to add comments or notes, and manual override should be supported so that professionals can send results before the expected automation date where appropriate. Portals should also allow the professional to retract a released result; prevent pathology and radiology results from being released beyond working weekdays; and should ensure that individuals admitted to hospital receive results in the same way and same timeframe as those who have not.
NHSE goes on to share specific details around time of results release for different specialties and tests; click here to read more.
Patient portals: the wider trend
This year we’ve shared news around patient portal launches including at Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust and George Eliot Hospital.
Earlier in the year we hosted a virtual panel discussion on patient portals as part of HTN Now, our live event series. The discussion touched upon panellist experiences and learnings in this area as well as shining the spotlight on the future of patient portals, including future directions, technologies and challenges.
Also from NHS England
Recent updates from NHSE include insight into the cyber attack that recently took place in South East London; a £4.2 million cyber security opportunity; an update on the NHSE Cancer Programme; and general practice guidance focusing on using data to manage variation in demand and capacity.
Yesterday we also highlighted how NHSE has launched a collaborative research initiative alongside Prostate Cancer Research which will see the NHS Research Secure Data Environment linking pseudonymised clinical data with patient-reported outcomes to support researchers in accessing rich data for their work.
