IDEXX In-house lab requests

Using requests to place lab orders enables two-way connection between Cornerstone and the VetLab station to run the correct tests and capture lab charges from multiple workflow types.

Benefits and workflow overview

Benefits

There are several benefits of using lab requests for IDEXX in-house/in-clinic laboratory.

• The client will automatically be billed for the requested laboratory work.
• The ability to view, edit, add to, and delete pending laboratory requests.
• Two-way communication between Cornerstone and IDEXX VetLab station.
  • The lab request will automatically be sent to the IDEXX VetLab station, eliminating the need for duplicate entry.
  • Results will automatically be imported into the patient’s medical record in Cornerstone.
• The ability to view IDEXX in house test results within VetConnect PLUS.

Workflow

An IDEXX inclinic lab request can be placed using any of these workflows:

• Charge entry: Adding lab items to Patient Visit List (PVL) or invoice
• Special action processing through any of the following:
  • Finalizing an estimate
  • Completing a Whiteboard order
  • Saving a document with lab invoice items (transferring to the PVL)
• Lab Request from either:
  • Patient Clipboard > right-click patient > Lab > New Lab Request
    
  • Toolbar > Lab Requests and Results > New > Enter patient and client.

Note: For charge entry and special action processing workflows, the following must be setup before using:

• Use special actions needs to be selected in the Lab Information window for the IDEXX In-clinic Laboratory: Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.
  
• Lab invoice items need to be setup with the lab special action.

Charge entry workflow

Use the following workflow when adding lab items to Patient Visit List (PVL) or invoice. The lab special action must be setup on the lab invoice item and Use special actions needs to be selected under Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.

1. Enter the invoice item ID for the test being requested, and press Tab to open a new laboratory request.
2. Select or change the staff ID as needed. The staff will display on the laboratory results.
3. Enter the values in the Drawn by and sample source fields, if needed.
   • Set Drawn by as required in lab information by going to Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.
4. Click edit/view to change the IDEXX VetLab Station to use for this request. This is for for practices that have multiple connected IDEXX VetLab Stations.
5. Enter any instructions as needed. Click Spell Check to address any spelling errors.
6. Click OK.
7. If the Print Lab Request window appears, do one of the following:
   • Click Print to print specified forms and labels and finish placing the request.
   • Click Preview to review and then print specified forms and labels.
   • Click Close to continue adding more lab items to the request. After all tests are entered, in the last Print window, update the number of label copies as needed, and then click Print.
8. When all items have been entered, click OK (PVL), Save or Post (invoice).

Notes:

• The steps above may vary, depending on your laboratory default settings.
• Once requests are placed, they can be tracked from the Lab Requests and Results window or the Daily Planner Diagnostics tab.

Special action processing workflow: Estimate, whiteboard order, document

The lab special action must be setup on the lab invoice item and Use special actions needs to be selected under Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.

1. Use any of the following methods to initiate the Special actions window:
   • On a Medical Note, in the Invoice Items tab, enter the invoice item ID(s) for the lab test(s) being requested with the appropriate doctor Staff ID. The entered staff will display on the laboratory results. Save/finalize the medical note to send items to the PVL.
   • On an Estimate, in the Item ID column, enter the invoice item ID for the test(s) being requested with the appropriate doctor Staff ID. The entered staff will display on the laboratory results. Finalize the estimate manually or with an electronic signature to send items to the PVL.
   • On the Electronic Whiteboard, place an order for the test(s) being requested. Complete the ordered treatment, enter any additional Whiteboard medical notes, and click OK to send items to the PVL.
2. A special action window with a Lab Request action for INCLINIC displays. Highlight the lab request action in the list and do one of the following:
   • Select Process to complete the laboratory request. Note: lab requests display with their associated Lab ID.
   • Select Continue or Close to perform the Lab Request later from the Special button on the Patient Visit List.
     
3. To process the lab request, make any of the following changes as needed:
   • Change the staff ID as needed. The entered staff will display on the laboratory results.
   • Enter values in the Drawn by and sample source fields, if needed. Set Drawn by as required in lab information by going to Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.
   • Click edit/view to change the IDEXX VetLab Station to use for this request. This is for for practices that have multiple connected IDEXX VetLab Stations.
   • Enter any instructions as needed. Click Spell Check to address any spelling errors.
   • Click OK.
4. If the Print Lab Request window appears, do one of the following:
   • Click Print to print specified forms and labels and finish placing the request.
   • Click Preview to review and then print specified forms and labels.
   • Click Close to finish placing the request without printing.
5. The special action box displays a teal check mark next to the Lab Request INCLINIC action; click Close.
   

Notes:

• Lab requests are processed individually per completed Whiteboard treatment. If completing more than one lab request, click Print per request.
• The steps above may vary, depending on your laboratory default settings.
• Once requests are placed, they can be tracked from the Lab Requests and Results window or the Daily Planner Diagnostics tab.

Request entry workflow: Patient Clipboard or Lab Requests and Results window

Navigate to one of the following:

• Patient Clipboard > right-click patient > Lab > New Lab Request.
• Toolbar > Lab Requests and Results > New > Enter patient and client.

1. Select INCLINIC from the Lab drop-down list,
2. Select or change the staff ID, as needed. The entered staff will display on the laboratory results.
3. Enter values in the Drawn by and sample source fields, if needed.
   • Set Drawn by as required in lab information by going to Activities > Lab Work > Laboratories > INCLINIC > Update.
4. Click edit/view to change the IDEXX VetLab Station to use for this request. This is for practices that have multiple connected IDEXX VetLab Stations.
5. Enter any instructions as needed. Click Spell Check to address any spelling errors.
6. In the Profiles/tests area, enter the invoice item IDs, or double-click in the Item ID cell to search for INCLINIC tests and profiles. In the Profile/test item List, do any of these to locate a test:
   • Include: Clear Favorites list to make sure you can view all associated tests and profiles.
     
   • Search by: Select Profile/test, Invoice item ID or Item description.
   • Click Profile/test Name, Type or Item ID column headers to sort displayed profiles accordingly.
7. Highlight (click) the test from the list and click Select (or double click test) to add it to the request. Repeat as needed until all tests needed display in the new lab request window.
   
8. Click OK to save request.
9. If the Print Lab Request window displays, do one of the following:
   • Click Print to print specified forms and labels and finish placing the request.
   • Click Preview to review and then print specified forms and labels.
   • Click Close to finish placing the request without printing.
10. The order is placed, and charges are added to the Patient Visit List.

Notes:

• The steps above may vary, depending on your laboratory default settings.
• Once requests are placed, they can be tracked from the Lab Requests and Results window or the Daily Planner Diagnostics tab.

Additional information

Related reports

These Cornerstone reports provide information from the actions outlined in this article. Each report has its own security access under the Reports tab of the Security Setup window.

• Lab Request Profiles Report
• Lab Request Status Report

Resources

• Cornerstone IDEXX VetLab user guide
• Laboratory daily checklist