Accreditation practice pointer: managing high-risk results identified after hours

GP2.2►E High-risk (seriously abnormal and life-threatening) results identified outside normal opening hours are managed by our practice.

RACGP Standards for general practice, 5th edition.

RACGP has updated the wording of GP2.2►E in the Standards. Previously, practices needed to ensure that diagnostic services were given the contact details of the practitioner who ordered an investigation.

Feedback from the wider diagnostic sector indicated the need for patients to be made aware of their high-risk results after hours without expecting GPs to be available over a 24-hour period. Thus, the Indicator has been revised to include a delegated practitioner or after-hours service as alternative delegations.

This change was made in collaboration with the Royal College of Pathologists Australasia (RCPA).

Practices must also have a documented policy outlining the process for the practice’s management of high-risk results identified outside of normal opening hours to meet the Criterion.