On-line Help...
The Lab
You have more than 650 lab tests to choose from as you conduct your investigation. The first time you enter the Lab section you may be presented with the Hypothesis window. If you have already entered a hypothesis and don't want to add another, click Done to proceed. Select the hypothesis you are investigating at the top of the screen.
Thirty-two of the most common lab tests are displayed in a table. To order a Common Lab, click the lab name. To get information about a common test before ordering the lab, click Test Info and then click the lab name. A window will open, displaying a description of the lab test, the normal value, what Abnormal Indicates, and the Relative Cost of the test.
To order a lab from one of the 19 lab categories, click the desired category, select the lab name and click Order, or, you can double-click the lab name. To get information from a lab in the category lists, select the lab name and then click the Test Info button.
If you can't find a lab, type its name or a partial name into the Search field and click Search. All labs that contain the term that you typed in will be displayed in the Search Results. Follow the steps described above if you want to order the test. You may access the Search feature from the Common Lab Tests table or at the bottom of the Lab Categories list.
If your instructor chooses, he/she may alter the appearance of the lab section. Depending on your instructor's preferences, you might:
- develop a list of labs to order all at once
- see the normal results displayed alongside the patient results and/or
- order labs that have 'delayed' results. If you order a delayed lab, the delay will be described in hours, but you will gain access to the results AFTER you have entered your diagnosis and final management for the patient. After viewing the delayed lab results, you will be allowed to change you diagnosis for the patient.
To exit the Lab, click Exam or Interview to continue your investigation. You may click Notes, Learning, or SOAP to record your thoughts or issues that arise during your investigation. You may click the Management button to enter an Interim Patient Management item or select the Final Management link to enter your diagnosis and final management plan.
