Follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium results in the ambulatory setting: implications for patient safety

American Journal of Medical Quality : the Official Journal of the American College of Medical Quality
Carlton MooreEthan Halm

Abstract

Failure to follow up outpatient test results in a timely manner is a growing patient safety concern. To investigate the follow-up of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in the ambulatory setting, the authors reviewed the medical records of all patients seen in a large primary care practice between September 1, 2003, and August 31, 2004, with potassium levels > or = 5.8 mEq/L. Of the 12,914 serum potassium tests performed, there were 109 cases of markedly elevated serum potassium levels in 86 patients. The median potassium level was 5.9 mEq/L (range, 5.8-7.3). More than half the patients were recalled to the clinic specifically for repeat testing; however, 25% of patients had no repeat tests until they were seen at routine follow-up visits. The median time to a repeat potassium level was 6 days (range, 0-445). Patients > or = 65 years old had a lower likelihood of having repeat testing within 1 week (odds ratio = 0.38, P = .03).

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Citations

Jun 24, 2009·Archives of Internal Medicine·Lisa M EinhornJeffrey C Fink
Dec 21, 2011·Journal of General Internal Medicine·Joanne L CallenJulie Li
Jun 24, 2010·The American Journal of Medicine·John J YouChaim M Bell
May 20, 2016·Pediatric Nephrology : Journal of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association·Aylin R Rodan
Jan 8, 2011·American Journal of Medical Quality : the Official Journal of the American College of Medical Quality·Jenny J Lin, Carlton Moore
Nov 6, 2018·Health Affairs·Elaine C KhoongUrmimala Sarkar
Jul 10, 2012·Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN·Biff F Palmer
Oct 17, 2017·Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease·Biff F Palmer, Deborah J Clegg

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