Procedure
Flag a critical result
Flag a critical result so it reaches the clinician quickly, record who you told and when, and keep the alert on the record.
A value in the critical range needs to reach the clinician quickly. This page walks you through flagging a critical result, recording who you told and when, and keeping the alert on the record.
Before you begin
A result carries an abnormal flag as data when a value crosses a range your laboratory has set. Flagging it critical raises the alert and starts the record of who you told.
The flag and the notification both stay on the record
The critical flag, the alert, and the person you notified all sit on the record with the time each happened. The account stays reconstructable afterwards.
Flag the result
- 1
Open the result
Find the result carrying the critical-range value on your work list.
The result shows the value with a critical flag as data.
Confirm the patient by the label and the colour cue before you go on.
- 2
Flag it critical
Select Flag critical on the result.
Sentinel raises an alert to the ordering clinician and the care team, and Raven delivers it over the channel each person accepts.
The alert opens in the alerts ledger with the patient, the value and the time.
- 3
Notify and record it
Reach the clinician by the route your department uses, then record who you told, the time, and the read-back on the result.
The notification sits on the record beside the value, with your name and the moment you acted.
If the clinician is away, record the deputy you reached instead.
- 4
Confirm the alert is acknowledged
Watch the alert for the clinician's acknowledgement.
The acknowledgement lands on the alert with the person and the time.
While an alert waits unacknowledged, it escalates up the chain your department has set, so a critical value keeps moving until someone owns it.
Common questions
What counts as a critical value?
A value your laboratory has set as a critical threshold. The result carries the critical flag as data the moment a value crosses it.
The clinician has not acknowledged. What happens?
While the alert waits, it escalates up the chain your department has set. It keeps moving to the next person until someone acknowledges it.
Where does the notification live?
On the result beside the value, and in the alerts ledger. Each carries the person who acted and the time they acted.
After you flag it
The alert follows a defined path until a clinician owns it, and the record keeps every step.
Read how an alert climbs the chain at escalation.