Continuity of Care Implementation Support - Checklist 3 of 6 - Tests Checklist

Oct 5, 2026

Continuity of Care Implementation Support - Tests Checklist (Checklist 3 of 6) outlines common responsibilities across multiple continuity of care policies, organizing required actions for ordering tests, tracking results, receiving and communicating outcomes, and following up. The checklist includes guidance on special contexts such as walk-in clinics and Emergency Departments, and when clinicians prepare for temporary absence. It specifies expectations for patient education, inclusion of professional contact information on requisitions, and establishing a test results management system that records tests, results, reviews, risk level, and patient notification with follow-up details.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Ordering Tests

Educate patients about the tests you order for them

Include your professional contact information on test requisitions

Tracking Tests and Results

Make sure you have a test results management system

Receiving Test Results

Review and manage clinically significant results

Communicating Test Results

Inform patients and arrange appropriate follow-up

Continuity of Care Implementation Support Checklist 3 of 6 Tests Checklist Includes: Ordering tests Tracking tests and results Receiving test results Communicating test results Following-up on test results Special considerations: • for physicians practicing in walk-in clinics and Emergency Departments • when preparing for temporary absence from practice General considerations for testing About this Checklist The OMA has developed a series of checklists to help you understand and implement the CPSO’s Continuity of Care policies. This checklist organizes the expectations related to tests from across all four Continuity of Care policies into common tasks. It lists key action items followed by the exact wording from the source policies. It also includes optional guidance from the CPSO’s Continuity of Care: Advice to the Profession document. This checklist is not intended as a substitute for reading the CPSO Continuity of Care policies in full. | Additional Advice to the Profession from the CPSO | | | --- | --- | | Generally, any physician who determines that a test is needed is responsible for ordering that test, tracking the results, and managing any follow-up stemming from that test. By ordering tests that they themselves have deemed necessary, physicians ensure that patient care is not unnecessarily delayed, and that their colleagues are not required to receive results or manage care that falls outside their scope of practice.
Sometimes, physicians in the patient’s circle of care may be able to accept responsibility (i.e., tracking and/ or follow-up) for a test ordered by another physician, but the receiving physician has to agree to accept responsibility for the test. | | | Specific situations:
Tests related to incidental findings by a specialist
If during the course of an assessment, a specialist makes an incidental finding unrelated to the consultation (including abnormal lab or imaging tests) they will need to use their professional judgment to determine what is appropriate, taking into account the clinical significance of the finding and the timeliness of the required follow-up. | New in 2024 | | If a test result is urgent, the specialist needs to communicate the result to the patient and take steps to arrange for timely follow-up. If a result is not urgent, the specialist needs to inform the patient of the finding and advise them to follow-up with their family physician.
Tests recommended by an e-consult physician
Physicians who provide e-consult services may not assess patients directly but might recommend that a test be ordered. In these cases, the physician seeking advice from the e-consultant physician would order the test and follow-up on the results.
Non-urgent tests recommended as a result of urgent or episodic care
In some situations, physicians might provide urgent or emergent episodic care, such as in an emergency department. Any recommendations for additional non-urgent investigations that fall outside of the acute care being provided are not generally the responsibility of the physician providing the urgent or emergent care. | | Tests Checklist • Page 1 of 7 | Continuity of Care Implementation Support • Checklist 3 of 6 v5 July 2024 Ordering Tests Educate patients about the tests you order for them • When ordering a test, physicians must inform patients of the significance of the test, the importance of getting the test done (in a timely manner, as appropriate), and the importance of complying with requisition form instructions.(Managing Tests, 21) Include your professional contact information on test requisitions • Physicians must include their professional contact information when ordering a test, writing a prescription, or making a referral and must provide relevant coverage contact information directly to other health-care providers (e.g., laboratories, diagnostic facilities) where it is appropriate to do so. (Availability in Coverage,

FAQs

What steps are required when ordering tests?

Physicians must educate patients about the significance of the test, the importance of completing it in a timely manner, and the need to comply with requisition instructions. They must also include professional contact information on the requisition, prescription, or referral where appropriate.

What must a test results management system be able to do?

It must enable physicians to record all ordered tests and received results, confirm that received results have been reviewed, identify patients at high risk for clinically significant or critical results, and record that patients were informed of clinically significant results and the follow-up taken.

How should physicians handle urgent versus non-urgent test results?

If a test result is urgent, the specialist communicates the result to the patient and arranges timely follow-up. If non-urgent, the specialist informs the patient and advises follow-up with their family physician.

Oct 5, 2026

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