Read Stephen's story and reflect on the questions provided.
Stephen's Story
Stephen is vacationing in California with his family when he notices some discomfort in his abdomen. He decides to visit a local emergency department (ED) to find out what is happening. The physician in the ED orders some lab work, draws Stephen's blood, and sends it to the lab. The lab sends the results back to the ED physician who incorporates the results into Stephen's electronic chart with proper LOINC codes for each test.
The ED physician provides Stephen with a diagnosis based on his test results and gives him a printout of his coded lab results. When Stephen returns home from his vacation, he follows up with his primary care provider and shares his results from the ED visit in California. Because these results were provided in a text description and standard code, Stephen's doctor can easily compare the lab results from the ED visit in California to Stephen's previous lab work and start Stephen on the proper treatment plan.
Questions to Ponder
- How did the use of LOINC coding affect Stephen's health care experience?
- What is the purpose of LOINC codes?
