2021-01-24

Trainee Bulletin - Select Authorizing Provider when Ordering for Consulting Services

All-user-bulletins highlight developments prescribers need to be aware of when using the Connect Care clinical information system.

Specifying an Authorizing Provider for Consulting Services

Prescriber trainees, including medical students, residents and fellows, are supervised by fully licensed “authorizing” prescribers. Unequivocal identification of the authorizing provider ensures that critical and late-reporting results are appropriately routed. 

A previous post outlines how authorizing provider identification is automated most of the time. 

Orders placed by services consulting in emergency (ED) or inpatient (IP) departments remain at risk for misdirection if trainees do not take care to explicitly identify the authorizing prescriber at the time of ordering. We experience ongoing issues with specialized tests returning to In Baskets of ED and IP physicians who did not order the test or take responsibility for follow-up. 

Fortunately, the process that trainees must use for specifying an appropriate consultant authorizing provider at the time of test ordering is straightforward, highlighted in the following: