Hospital glitch delays 2,700 test results

An error with Health Sciences North's computer system delayed 2,700 patient test results conducted over a period of nearly one month.

Results from various diagnostic imaging tests – including x-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs – performed between March 14 and April 11, 2014, were delayed when the hospital's clinical server failed to forward the results to a system called auto-fax, that automatically faxes the results to patients' physicians.

During that period, the hospital completed more than 16,000 tests, but 2,700 were affected by the system glitch.

After determining which tests were delayed, through a manual audit, Health Sciences North couriered the test results to physicians and sent letters to affected patients, to notify them about the error.

Hospital spokesperson Dan Lessard said it is likely the vast majority of the delayed tests were for routine exams.

When patients are tested for more serious conditions, such as cancers, the radiologist usually contacts the patient's physician directly, he said.

“We have some software measures in place now that will automatically flag when a test result is not forwarded,” Lessard said.

Before the error, Health Sciences North's system only sent out an alert when the auto-fax system failed to reach a physician, but did not flag tests that never reached the system in the first place.

Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas, the NDP's health critic, praised Health Sciences North's response after the mistake, but said such errors still shake people's confidence in the hospital.

“To have quality care you have to have a relationship of trust,” she said. “This relationship of trust has been damaged. Whether you were affected or not, it still shakes our confidence. It says our hospital made a mistake. Maybe they will make one again.”

Gélinas said the mistake shows patients they should follow up with their family doctor after they receive a test at the hospital.