Well Child Services
Better Sharing of Lab Results
The transfer of hospital patients between South Canterbury and Canterbury will go more smoothly from September.
TestSafe South is a secure online database that can be used to access patient lab results. Canterbury DHB recently introduced TestSafe South, and South Canterbury DHB is working in partnership with Canterbury to introduce it starting next month.
This means laboratory results from tests performed at one district health board will become immediately available online to hospital clinicians working at both Canterbury and South Canterbury DHBs.
There are also plans to use TestSafe South to make test results available to the patient's General Practitioner further down the track.
Sharing lab results will improve and speed up patient care, especially when patients are transferred by helicopter from Timaru Hospital to Christchurch Hospital in an emergency. The results of lab tests carried out at Timaru Hospital will be immediately available to doctors in Christchurch.
It will also help in situations where Christchurch patients are treated at Timaru Hospital, or South Canterbury patients are referred to specialists in Christchurch for further advice or treatment.
South Canterbury DHB chief medical officers Bill Taine says that up to now, doctors and nurses only had some of the test results available to them.
"The value of having the full picture of a patient's tests in front of a doctor or nurse at the point of care is huge," he says. "It will lead to more appropriate care and less duplication of lab tests."
"The ability to see Christchurch results will advantage those patients who present at Timaru Hospital with a problem after treatment in Christchurch. It will be much more of an advantage to the GP referred-patient as well, as there will not be any duplication of previous tests."
Information about the introduction of TestSafe South at Canterbury DHB
General information about TestSafe South
For more information about what is happening at South Canterbury DHB contact:
Arlene Goss
Communications Advisor, South Canterbury District Health Board
Private Bag 911, Timaru
Ph: 03 684 1395, Fax: 03 688 0238, Mobile: 027 276 4259