COVID-19 PCR lab orders now include questions

New questions meet CARES Act requirements

To meet the requirements of the CARES Act, all COVID-19 PCR lab orders were updated with new clinical questions that need to be addressed during order placement.

Please know that there is ongoing direct work with Epic to eventually have these questions auto-populated, where feasible. This auto-population feasibility will be added over the next several weeks. The updated orders went live on July 23. Thank you in advance for your understanding!

Here are the questions (options for answers are yes/no/unknown); plus the screen shot of what you’ll see:

• Is this test being ordered for pre-procedural screening, discharge placement or surveillance programs in patients not otherwise suspected as at risk for COVID-19?
• Is this the patient’s first test for COVID-19?
• Is the patient employed in healthcare?
• Is the patient symptomatic as defined by CDC?
• Has the patient been hospitalized relating to this order being placed?
• Has the patient been admitted/transferred to the ICU at any time relating to any illness or condition relating to this order?
• Is the patient a resident in a congregate care setting (care home, foster care, etc.)?
• Is the patient currently pregnant?