Results Review - Alphabetic vs Categorical Sorting

Problem: Clinicians value tabular displays of laboratory test results. This helps appreciate a lot of information at once. However, if table rows are not ordered as expected, visual scanning does not perform as expected.

The Connect Care results review activity is organizing table rows (within sections) alphabetically, which differs from clinical convention. The elements of an electrolyte panel, for example, should be ordered by meaning (e.g., sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarb), not first letter of the test name.

Solution: The results review row order was set to alphabetical to match a Netcare provincial flowsheet. This was not as intended and needs to be reversed. A team is working to restore the clinically meaningful results ordering that physicians expect. The change should appear before Nov 14.