The Emergency Department Pathology Order Support Tool (ED POST) – an intelligent and dynamic electronic tool to facilitate appropriate and effective use of pathology

Laboratory services are involved in the study of the nature and causes of disease, and play an essential part in the detection, diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. Despite the importance that diagnostic testing plays in the delivery of quality health care, there is evidence of substantial unwarranted variation in diagnostic testing, particularly in hospital EDs and ICUs. This can lead to under-testing and patient safety concerns associated with missed diagnosis, or over-testing which can lead to a cascade of added investigations resulting in an unnecessary and potential risk to patients.

This project involves the design, trial and implementation of the Emergency Department Pathology Order Support Tool (ED POST) to facilitate appropriate, safe and effective use of pathology. ED POST will be developed as a scalable digital health support tool that allows clinicians to enter patient variables at triage and return probability scores to assist with decision making on the pathology order for almost every possible presenting scenario. ED POST will incorporate state-wide, Local Health District and facility scores adjusting for seasonality and geographic nuance.

The development of ED POST will lead to reductions in over-ordering for lower risk patients and a reduction in instances of under-ordering for those in higher risk categories, helping to harmonise testing profiles. ED-POST will have wide applicability across NSW and nationwide.

Other members and collaborators:
Mr Craig Scowen - NSW Health Pathology
Mr Alex Eigenstetter - NSW Health Pathology
Dr Conrad Loten - Hunter New England Local Health Network
Mr Arpit Onawale - Abbott Diagnostics
Dr Cheryl McCullagh - Beamtree
This project is supported by an Australian Government Department of Health Quality Use of Pathology Program grant.