US20140156311A1

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Publication number: US20140156311A1
Application number: US14/171,875
Authority: US
Inventors: T Ashok Shenoy; Niall Sweeney; Elize Dekker
Original assignee: Quest Diagnostics Inc
Current assignee: Quest Diagnostics Inc
Priority date: 2001-01-12
Filing date: 2014-02-04
Publication date: 2014-06-05
Also published as: US8645152B1

Abstract

In an exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing medical test results. The method includes a step of selecting formulary information that corresponds to a result of a medical test. The method also includes a step of generating a medical report. The medical report includes a laboratory report that corresponds to the medical test. The medical report also includes the selected formulary information.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/044,568, which was filed on 11 Jan. 2002 and titled “Method for Providing Medical Test Results”, which issued on 4 Feb. 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,645,152, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a method for providing medical test results. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for providing formulary information relating to medical tests.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the healthcare industry, specifically the relationship between physicians (MDs), managed care organizations (MCOs), pharmacy benefit management companies (PBMs), pharmaceutical companies, and patients. MDs treat patients using prescription drugs that are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. MCOs seek to evaluate and select prescription drugs for particular treatments based upon both healthcare and commercial perspectives, and the MCOs recommend and approve selected prescription drugs for coverage under a managed care contract using what can be referred to as a formulary.

Medical doctors today deal with an average of 5 to 6 MCO (or PBM) plans to which their patients subscribe. When the number of benefits plans is multiplied by the number of possible disease conditions of their patients, the number of formularies that the MDs have to deal with becomes overwhelming. For example, if an MD works with six MCO plans and there are ten disease conditions that they treat, then there may be sixty (60) formularies that they have to remember or be able to refer to prior to selecting a drug for a particular treatment. Accordingly, for each patient that visits a particular MD for treatment for the first time, the MD is likely to identify the patient's MCO and/or PBM plan. Then, for the particular disease state or condition being treated, the MD may have to recollect or research the formulary for the particular MCO and/or PBM before selecting a treatment.

Consequently, medical doctors may prescribe drugs that they remember as being approved, drugs they are most comfortable with, or drugs they consider as standard therapy for the particular disease state. Oftentimes this results in the doctor selecting a drug that is inconsistent with the formulary of the MCO and/or PBM (i.e., the drug that they have prescribed is not the most preferred or, in the worst case, the drug is not even approved by the MCO and/or PBM).

This lack of what is called “formulary compliance” creates many problems in the industry. MCOs and PBMs lose revenue and the patients may also incur an increase in out of pocket expense. The health benefits to the patient may also be reduced. Additionally, the MCOs and PBMs have increased costs in trying to correct the problem immediately at the pharmacy, or in the future with the errant medical doctor through letters and phone calls. The medical doctors also have increased expenses because their staff has to handle the subsequent communications from the providers (MCOs and PBMs) and the pharmacies.

Accordingly, there is a need in the industry for improved formulary compliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an exemplary embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing medical test results. The method includes a step of selecting formulary information that corresponds to a result of a medical test. The method also includes a step of generating a medical report. The medical report corresponds to the medical test and includes the laboratory report results of the medical test. The medical report also includes the selected formulary information.

In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing formulary information that corresponds to the results of a medical test. The method includes a step of identifying a prescription care provider associated with a patient. Further, the method includes the step of selecting formulary information corresponding to a result of the medical test of the patient, and also corresponding to the prescription care provider.

In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method of treating a patient. The method includes a step of obtaining a medical report including a laboratory report corresponding to a medical test of a patient. The medical report additionally includes formulary information that corresponds to the results of the medical test. The method also includes the step of selecting a treatment for the patient using the formulary information included in the medical report.

In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a medical report for a medical test. The medical report includes a laboratory report corresponding to a medical test of a patient. The medical report also includes formulary information corresponding to the result of the medical test.

In yet another embodiment, this invention provides a method of providing a medical report including formulary information. The formulary information corresponds to one or more selected prescription care providers. The method includes a step of identifying a prescription care provider for a patient. The method also includes the step of verifying that the prescription care provider for the patient is one of the selected prescription care providers. Further, the method also includes the step of generating a medical report including the formulary information corresponding to the prescription care provider for the patient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the figures of which:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram which illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method of delivering a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of an embodiment of a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of another embodiment of a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of yet another embodiment of a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of still another embodiment of a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of another embodiment of a medical report in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred features of selected, exemplary embodiments of this invention will now be described with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to the embodiments selected for illustration. It is contemplated that any of the configurations described hereafter can be modified within the scope of the invention.

In one exemplary embodiment, the medical test results are laboratory test results. Throughout this document the term medical test results is intended to identify a broad class of test results, which includes laboratory test results as well as any other results relating to a medical evaluation. For example, a medical test result could be a laboratory test result, such as the result obtained for a blood specimen or other type of biological specimen is examined. Alternatively, a medical test result may be a blood pressure test result, a stress test result, a cardiogram, or a result of any medical evaluation.

Generally, with reference toFIGS. 1 through 6, one aspect of this invention provides a method of providing medical test results.Formulary information220 corresponding to a result of a medical test is selected at a formulary messagegeneration process step108. The formulary information is optionally provided in the form of formularies, which can be formatted as lists of approved drugs for a certain disease or condition. Each formulary list can be broken down by those approved drugs that are preferred (“tier 1”), less preferred (“tier 2”), and non-preferred (“tier 3”). These formularies are usually disease state and MCO plan specific. Amedical report200 is generated at a medicalreport compilation step112. The medical report includes alaboratory report210 corresponding to the medical test. The medical report also includes the selectedformulary information220.

In another aspect this invention provides a method for providingformulary information220 corresponding to results of a medical test. This method includes confirming that a patient is associated with either a health care insurer or prescription benefit management company for their prescription benefits (i.e., a prescription care provider) and qualifies for the formulary to be listed. Further,formulary information220 corresponding to a result of a medical test of the patient, and also corresponding to the prescription care provider, is selected at a formulary messagegeneration process step108. Additionally, theformulary information220 is provided to a medical professional in areport delivery step114.

In another aspect, this invention provides a method of treating a patient. This method includes the step of obtaining amedical report200 atreport delivery step114. Themedical report200 includes alaboratory report210 that corresponds to a medical test of a patient. Themedical report200 also includesformulary information220 that corresponds to a result of the medical test. The method also includes the step of selecting the treatment for the patient atstep116 using theformulary information220 in themedical report200.

In yet another aspect, this invention provides amedical report200 for a medical test. Themedical report200 comprises alaboratory report210 that includes a result of a medical test of the patient. Themedical report200 also includesformulary information220 that corresponds to the result of the medical test.

In yet another aspect, this invention provides a method of providing amedical report200 includingformulary information220. Theformulary information220 corresponds to one or more selected prescription care providers. A prescription care provider for a patient is identified and captured at a capturepatient data step103. Atstep105 it is verified that the prescription care provider for the patient is one of the selected prescription care providers. A medical report including the formulary information corresponding to the prescription care provider for the patient is generated at

steps

108 and112.

“Formulary information” as used herein refers to any information, sometimes in the form of one or more lists, regarding an approved drug or drugs for a certain disease or condition or indication. The formulary information is usually provider specific. In an exemplary embodiment, the provider may be a managed care organization (MCO). In another exemplary embodiment, the provider may be a pharmacy benefit management company (PBM). According to one embodiment, the formulary list separates the approved drugs into numerous tiers, such astier 1, tier 2, and tier 3.Tier 1 drugs are those that are most preferred by the provider, tier 2 drugs are less preferred by the provider, and tier 3 drugs are non-preferred by the provider. A medical professional (e.g., a doctor) can use the formulary information in order to make a prescription or treatment decision related to a patient.

When a patient undergoes a medical procedure or test or other evaluation that involves a laboratory analysis, a clinical laboratory report is typically generated. The clinical laboratory report, hereafter referred to as the laboratory report or the lab report, includes all of the results of the medical test performed.

This means that the laboratory report not only includes abnormal medical test results (i.e., results outside a “normal” range), but also includes normal medical test results (i.e., results within a “normal” range).

If abnormal medical test results are reported separately from normal medical test results (i.e., in a partial, preliminary report as opposed to a complete laboratory report), formulary information can be provided at a later time together with a supplemental, second report that includes the normal medical test results. Alternatively, it may be preferred to make the formulary information available with the complete laboratory report at the time that the laboratory report is first issued. By providing the formulary information together with the laboratory report (e.g., in a first report from a laboratory testing company to the medical professional as opposed to in a second report), the formulary information will be made available to the medical professional at the time when he or she makes a treatment or prescription decision. In other words, by providing the formulary information together with the complete laboratory report in a first (and perhaps only) medical report from the laboratory testing company, the medical professional can use the formulary information at the same time he or she evaluates the laboratory report and makes a treatment decision.

It has been discovered that the provision of the formulary information together with the complete laboratory report is beneficial because it avoids the need for a second report. Such a second report may be received by the medical professional after a treatment decision has already been made, based on a first report of abnormal test results, without the benefit of having the formulary information. Also, the use of a second report may add to the administrative burden of the medical professional because it must be reported to the patient, filed with the patient's medical history, or otherwise handled or considered by the medical professional.

Therefore, it has been discovered that it may be preferred to include the formulary information along with the complete laboratory report in a medical report that is delivered to the medical professional. That medical report, according to an exemplary embodiment of this invention, is the first and only report sent to the medical professional by the laboratory testing company.

It is therefore understood that a single medical report (including a clinical laboratory report) may be generated and delivered to a medical professional with appropriate formulary information. Alternatively, multiple medical reports may be generated and delivered, with each of the reports including the appropriate formulary information. In another aspect, multiple medical reports may be generated and delivered, with the first (original) report including the appropriate formulary information. In each of these exemplary aspects, the medical professional may have a medical report (including the formulary information) before making a treatment decision (e.g., a prescription). Therefore, the medical professional can have the benefit of the formulary information at the time that a treatment decision is made.

According to one exemplary embodiment, themedical report200 includes alaboratory report210 andformulary information220. Thelaboratory report210 is the first results that a medical professional receives related to the medical test performed. Therefore, because theformulary information220 is included in themedical report200 along with thelaboratory report210, the medical professional receives theformulary information220 at the earliest possible opportunity. Therefore, the medical professional can use theformulary information220 in order to make an appropriate treatment or prescription decision. As a result, formulary compliance is increased.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method of providing medical test results to a medical professional. Alab request102 is typically made by a physician or other medical professional regarding a condition or potential condition of a patient.Lab request102 is sent to one of a number of laboratories that may belong to a lab information systems network. The laboratory that receiveslab request102 performs the lab analysis at astep104. The results oflab analysis step104 may include abnormal medical test results, along with normal medical test results. Alternatively, the results oflab analysis step104 may be entirely normal or entirely abnormal.

At least one element of the results oflab analysis step104 results in atrigger106.Trigger106 may be an abnormal test result fromlab analysis104, or trigger106 may be a normal test result fromlab analysis104. Regardless of the test result that causedtrigger106, trigger106 results in the initialization of a formulary messagegeneration process step108.

In parallel to the steps described above,lab request102 additionally initializes adata capture step103. Atstep103 patient data is captured in preparation for the potential compilation of a medical report. For example, the patient data captured may include patient identification information, patient insurance information (e.g., a policy number), and other relevant information that can be retrieved in advance of (or concurrently with) the lab analysis being conducted. The patient insurance information captured preferably includes the identity of the patient's prescription care provider (e.g., MCO, PBM).

After the patient data is captured atstep103, the eligibility of a formulary message is verified atstep105. For example, certain providers may subscribe to a formulary messaging service according to exemplary embodiments of this invention. As such, medical reports issued relating to patients associated with these subscribing providers may be selected to include relevant formulary information. Inclusion of relevant formulary information may further be conditioned upon the specific policy (or type of policy) that the patient has with the provider.

Other providers may not subscribe to the formulary messaging service. As such, medical reports issued relating to patients associated with these non-subscribing providers may not include relevant formulary information. Therefore, atstep105, the eligibility of a formulary message to be included in a medical report is verified.

For example, one or more benefits providers (such as a medical insurance company) may subscribe to a formulary messaging service that is provided by a reporting entity that generates medical reports (such as a laboratory testing company). As a subscriber, the benefits provider makes formulary guidelines available to the reporting entity. When a test is performed for patient that subscribes to the benefits provider and a medical report is to be generated for that patient, the formulary guidelines of the subscribing benefits provider are incorporated into the medical report. In that way, formulary guidelines of subscribing benefits providers are made available to the medical professional acting on behalf of the patient.

After the eligibility of the inclusion of formulary information is verified atstep105, the data captured atstep103 is transmitted to the formulary messagegeneration process step108.

The formulary messagegeneration process step108 may be conducted by the laboratory that receivedlab request102, for example, by using a computer server internal to the laboratory. Alternatively, formulary messagegeneration process step108 may be conducted by a central server that compiles formulary message generation processes108 for a number of laboratories. In order to10 conduct the formulary messagegeneration process step108, formulary information specific to the trigger106 (e.g., a disease state, an abnormal test result, a normal test result, etc.), and formulary information specific to a provider (e.g., an insurance provider) of the patient may be used.

The insurance provider of the patient may be a medical insurance provider, such as a managed care organization (MCO). Alternatively, the provider of the patient may be a pharmacy benefit management company (PBM). In some situations, the MCO of the patient and the PBM of the patient may be the same company.

The server used to conduct formulary messagegeneration process step108 requests information from the provider at providerformulary process step110.

For example, according to one exemplary embodiment, the requested information will include an indication of whether the MCO of the patient and the PBM of the patient are the same company. The requested information may also include eligibility information, co-pay information, pricing information, or additional medical or treatment guidelines. However, the primary request atstep110 is for the relevant formulary information.

If the MCO is also the prescription care provider for the patient, the formulary information provided by the providerformulary process step110 to the formulary messagegeneration process step108 will be MCO specific. However, if the MCO is not the prescription care provider of the patient, and indeed a distinct PBM is the prescription care provider of the patient, the formulary information provided by providerformulary process step110 to formulary messagegeneration process step108 will be PBM specific.

The storage and/or provision of formulary information, in providerformulary process step110, can be performed by a prescription drug provider such as an MCO or a PBM, by a third party managing the process on behalf of the prescription drug provider, or by some other entity capable of manipulating or otherwise handling formulary information.

Upon receiving the requested information from providerformulary process step110, formulary messagegeneration process step108 will provide the appropriate formulary message to the laboratory (or whichever entity compiles the medical report) so that the medical report may be compiled in a medicalreport compilation step112. At medicalreport compilation step112, amedical report200 is generated that includes thelab report210 and the formulary message (formulary information)220. Because theformulary information220 is available at the same time that the laboratory report is available, a timelymedical report200 may be compiled. The 25 medical report is then delivered to the appropriate medical professional atreport delivery step114.

Themedical report200 may be delivered to a physician, or any other appropriate medical professional. Themedical report200 may be delivered by any appropriate means such as courier, mail, printer, e-mail, fax, or other electronic or wireless devices such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). In an exemplary embodiment, themedical report200 is delivered by the same means by which the laboratory test was ordered by the medical professional. For example, if the laboratory test was ordered electronically, then the medical report is advantageously delivered electronically to the same address from which the test was ordered. Alternatively, if the laboratory test was ordered via hard copy requisition and picked up by a laboratory courier, then the medical report is advantageously delivered to the same address by a laboratory courier.

Upon reviewing themedical report200, the medical professional will have access to accurate formulary information that is specific to the medical test result, insurance provider, and the patient. The medical professional may then select appropriate treatment for the patient attreatment selection step116. As a result of this process, treatment (e.g., a prescription) is selected for the patient that is in compliance with the formulary.

In the event that the medical report is delivered electronically via the Internet, the medical professional may be provided with the option to access available online prescribing systems118 directly from the medical report using hyperlinks. For example, if the medical report is provided by electronic mail, a link such as a hyperlink can be provided within the medical report for immediate electronic access to one or more electronic prescription services. In that way, the medical professional can easily prescribe a particular drug or other treatment based on the test results and formulary information found in the medical report.

FIG. 2 illustrates amedical report200 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Themedical report200 includes alab report210. Themedical report200 also includesformulary information220. Thelab report210 included in themedical report200 is the complete laboratory report. Thelab report210 includes any normal medical test results produced by the test along with any abnormal medical test results. Thelab report210 is the initial or first or only medical test result that a medical professional will receive relating to the requested medical test. Therefore, since theformulary information220 is included in themedical report200 along with theinitial lab report210, the medical professional reviewing themedical report200 can make a compliant treatment decision based on the relevant formulary information.

Themedical report200 may include any other relevant or helpful information. For example, themedical report200 may optionally include patient specific information. The patient specific information may include the patient's name, the patient's date of “birth, any allergies the patient may have, and any other relevant information regarding the patient. Themedical report200 may also include the date that the respective medical test was performed. For example, if a laboratory specimen was taken from a patient and sent to a lab to be tested, the date that the specimen was taken may be included in themedical report200. In addition to the date of the specimen or laboratory test, the time of the laboratory test may also be included in themedical report200. As such, any relevant information may be included inmedical report200, and such relevant information can be selected depending on the preferences of the medical professional, the laboratory testing company, and/or some other entity.

FIG. 3 illustrates amedical report200A in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Themedical report200A includes thelab report210 and theformulary information220, as inFIG. 2. However, themedical report200A illustrated inFIG. 3 additionally includes aprovider identity300.

If the patient's MCO is the same as the patient's prescription care provider, then the provider identity would be the identity of the MCO. However, if the patient's MCO is different from the patient's prescription care provider (e.g., PBM), then theprovider identity300 would be the identity of the prescription care provider of the patient. Theprovider identity300 may be useful to the medical professional in making a treatment decision, and it may therefore be preferred that theprovider identity300 is included in themedical report200A.

Although the identity of theprovider300 is shown in an area of themedical report200A that is different from thelab report210 or theformulary information220, this is not required. Therefore, the identity of theprovider300 may be included in theformulary information section220 of themedical report200A, or it may be included in thelab report210 section of themedical report200A or elsewhere depending upon preferences of the entity creating the report.

FIG. 4 illustrates anothermedical report200B in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As with the previously described embodiments, themedical report200B illustrated inFIG. 4 includes thelab report210 and theformulary information220. However, themedical report200B illustrated inFIG. 4 additionally includes thepharmaceutical company identity400 or the identity of another supplier. For example, a pharmaceutical company may be a manufacturer of a drug or treatment option included in theformulary information220.

Thepharmaceutical company400 may be a subscriber to a formulary messaging service provided by the lab (or whichever entity generates the medical report). As a subscriber, thepharmaceutical company400 may desire to have its logo included in themedical report200B. Additionally, during preparation of themedical report200B, the laboratory (or an alternative medical report compiler) may provide a subscribingpharmaceutical company400 with additional benefits with regard to themedical report200B. For example, if thepharmaceutical company400 has atier 1 preferred drug included in the formulary list informulary information220, the pharmaceutical company listing may be distinguished from other pharmaceutical companies listings in the formulary listing. For example, the pharmaceutical company listing may be enlarged with respect to the other pharmaceutical companies listings, or the pharmaceutical company listings may be included in a bold typeface. By distinguishing the pharmaceutical company listing, the pharmaceutical company hopes that the medical professional reviewing the medical report may be inclined to select the pharmaceutical company's drug or treatment option.

Although the identity of thepharmaceutical company400 is shown in area of themedical report200B that is different from thelab report210 or theformulary information220, this is not required. Therefore, the identity of thepharmaceutical company400 may be included in theformulary information section220 of themedical report200B, or it may be included in thelab report210 section of themedical report200B or elsewhere.

FIG. 5 provides an additional illustration of amedical report200C in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As with the previously described embodiments, themedical report200C illustrated inFIG. 5 includeslab report210 andformulary information220. However, themedical report200C illustrated inFIG. 5 includesoptional pricing information500.Pricing information500 may represent the price of each treatment option on the formulary listing informulary information220.Pricing information500 may be an average wholesale price of each treatment option. Alternatively,pricing information500 may represent an average retail price of each treatment option.Pricing information500 will assist the medical professional in selecting a cost-effective, yet compliant treatment option fromformulary information220.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet anothermedical report200D in accordance with still another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As with the previously described embodiments,medical report200D includeslab report210 andformulary information220. However,medical report200D illustrated inFIG. 6 includes optionalcurrent prescriptions information600. The patient's current prescription information may assist the medical professional in selecting a treatment option from theformulary information listing220. For example, the patient's current prescription information may reveal that a certain drug included in the formulary information listing220 may not be used by the patient. Conversely, the patient'scurrent prescription information600 may make a treatment option included in the formulary information listing220 more desirable than the alternative treatment included in formulary listing.

Although the patient'scurrent prescription information600 is illustrated in an area of themedical report200D that is distinct from thelab report210 and theformulary information220, this is not required. Therefore, the patient'scurrent prescription information600 may be included in theformulary information section220, or may be included in thelab report section210 or elsewhere.

As indicated above,medical report200 may optionally include additional information not shown in any of the figures of the present application. For example,medical report200 may include additional medical guidelines or medical interactions. The medical guidelines or medical interactions may be specific to the triggermedical test result106. For example, if thetrigger106 medical test result was an abnormal hemoglobin test result, than the medical guidelines or medical interactions included inmedical report200 may include medical guidelines related to abnormal hemoglobin results. The guidelines may include treatment, dietary, technical, or any other information relevant to thehemoglobin result trigger106.

As provided above,medical report200 is delivered to a medical professional atreport delivery step114. Themedical report200 may be delivered to the medical professional through any of a number of communication means. For example,medical report200 may be printed and couriered to the medical professional. Alternatively,medical report200 may be printed and mailed to the medical professional, may be faxed to the medical professional, may be emailed or otherwise electronically transmitted to the medical professional, or may be delivered to the medical professional using any other electronic method such as by the use of a personal digital assistant (PDA). Because themedical report200 may be delivered electronically to the medical professional, themedical report200 may exist in electronic form only.

The medical report disclosed herein may typically be used in making treatment decisions by a medical professional. The medical report may include information, such as a web address, that may be used by the medical professional to prescribe the treatment online.

In addition to this information, the medical report may include instructions to assist the medical professional in prescribing the treatment online. Further, if the medical report is provided electronically, the report may include a link to an online prescription service.

It will be appreciated that other modifications can be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention separately defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of providing a result of a laboratory test performed on a patient who participates with a prescription care provider, the method being performed by a computer system that comprises one or more processors and one or more interfaces operatively coupled to at least one of the processors, the method comprising:

receiving the result through one of the interfaces;

automatically in response to receiving the result, determining that the result results in a trigger;

automatically in response to the trigger, receiving formulary information that is specific to the trigger and specific to the prescription care provider;

automatically in response to receiving the formulary information, generating a single medical report that includes (1) the formulary information and (2) a laboratory report that includes the result; and

transmitting the medical report through one of the interfaces.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the medical report consists of a representation of a single printed or electronic page.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the trigger is an abnormal test result.

4. A computer system for providing a result of a laboratory test performed on a patient who participates with a prescription care provider, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more interfaces operatively coupled to at least one of the processors; and one or more computer-readable storage media operatively coupled to at least one of the processors and encoded with instructions that, when executed by one or more of the processors, causes the computer system at least to:

receive the result through one of the interfaces;

automatically in response to receiving the result, determine that the result results in a trigger;

automatically in response to the trigger, receive formulary information that is specific to the trigger and specific to the prescription care provider;

automatically in response to receiving the formulary information, generate a single medical report that includes (1) the formulary information and (2) a laboratory report that includes the result; and

transmit the medical report through one of the interfaces.

5. The computer system ofclaim 4, wherein the medical report consists of a representation of a single printed or electronic page.

6. The computer system ofclaim 4, wherein the trigger is an abnormal test result.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by one or more processors within a computer system that comprises one or more interfaces operatively coupled to at least one of the processors, cause the computer system at least to:

receive through one of the interfaces a result of a laboratory test performed on a patient who participates with a prescription care provider;

transmit the medical report through one of the interfaces.

8. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 7, wherein the medical report consists of a representation of a single printed or electronic page.

9. The computer-readable storage medium ofclaim 7, wherein the trigger is an abnormal test result.