ORU message: Performing Lab (Cerner)

[Rick Martin]

Hi all,

For those of you creating/receiving lab results in ORU messages, where do you typically find the performing lab information?

We are the reference lab and typically send the performing lab code (where the test was actually tested) in OBX.15 (Producers ID) which is translated on the receiving side to a name/address.

We are building our first interface to a Cerner Millenium system and they are asking for the performing lab information in OBR.21 (Filler Field #2) in the format:

^^^^^

This seems quite odd to me and was curious what others are doing.

Thanks! Rick

Topic

[Beth Palmateer]

We have been sending ORU results from Misys to Cerner Millennium for several years.  Misys considers “Performing Lab” the department that did the test, i.e. BB for Blood Bank, MC for Micro, etc.  This code is sent to Cerner in OBR-24 (Diagnostic service section ID).  OBR-21 is blank on our results to Cerner because Misys does not populate that field.

This has never been a problem for us, but our Cerner order entry/result setup may be different than yours.

Beth

Salina Regional Health Center

Salina, KS

[Jim Kosloskey]

Rick,

The Filler (an Placer) fields are ST type fields.

It appears Cerner is asking for the field to be used as CE or other component type field.

I would expect there is a more proper field to place that information – even if you need to use a repetition of the field.

Jim Kosloskey

email: jim.kosloskey@jim-kosloskey.com 29+ years Cloverleaf, 59 years IT - old fart.

[Rick Martin]

Hi Jim,

Yes, those filler fields are string fields, not CE, XCN, XON or XAD type fields.  That’s one of my problems with sending the information in that field.

All of our other interfaces seem happy with just the lab code in the OBX.15 field, but Cerner is saying they can’t handle that.

I’m looking for thoughts/suggestions so I can reply to Cerner.

Thanks, Rick

[Anonymous]

Rick,

here what we get and what we send out.

1. OBR:4 0023084^MG-^HNAC  ( Lab test codes)

2. OBR:16 Physician ID, and name

3. MSH:3 and MSH:5 are facility codes. Based on that they should be able to route store the data in relevant database and also route the lab results back.

and Finally I think you are referring to OBR:2 and sub field 1

4. OBR2.1 : We send out Lab test code same as OBR:4.1

and we receive the lab results in the following format in OBR:2.1

   

There is a reason for us to get the OBR:2.1 in this format since McKesson’s Caremanager treat this segment as a unique. Say for an instance a patient can have multiple results for the same tests on the same day. Hence it requires a unique number in OBR:2.1

Therefore, Cerner is sending the outbound sends out unique number for the OBR 2.1

Hope this helps.

thx

Reggie

Hope this helps.

[Ryan Boone]

Rick,

I work for a regional lab that occasionally utilizes other performing labs. I don’t know how other national/regional labs send out this info, but we typically send it in either the OBR-21 (as you’ve stated) or the OBX-15. Those are the most common locations the various OMS/EMRs expect to find it — albeit in various formats. In some instances we send the full name/address information in NTE segments if the receiving system is unable to use the data in those 2 fields.

Actually, I prefer to transmit all of the lab info rather than just the performing lab codes — keeping a large number of client systems updated with new codes can become a maintenance hassle.

Rick Martin wrote:

Hi all,

For those of you creating/receiving lab results in ORU messages, where do you typically find the performing lab information?

We are the reference lab and typically send the performing lab code (where the test was actually tested) in OBX.15 (Producers ID) which is translated on the receiving side to a name/address.

We are building our first interface to a Cerner Millenium system and they are asking for the performing lab information in OBR.21 (Filler Field #2) in the format:

^^^^^

This seems quite odd to me and was curious what others are doing.

Thanks! Rick

[Rick Martin]

Hi Ryan,

Thanks – your reply was very helpful.  When the information appears in OBR.21, what is the data type for that field and did you explicitly define the subfields?

I’m going to check on the NTE option as well.

Thanks, Rick

[Ryan Boone]

In my situation, since there are so many systems that need that information in different fields and formats, I wrote a few plug-n-play TCL scripts to handle the common ones. So I just plug in what I need for each receiving system unless one comes along that needs it a little differently. Then I either update the script or create a new one as needed.

There’s a broader reason for doing it this way here … but I typically do not use an xlate for this.

Rick Martin wrote:

Hi Ryan,

Thanks – your reply was very helpful.  When the information appears in OBR.21, what is the data type for that field and did you explicitly define the subfields?

I’m going to check on the NTE option as well.

Thanks, Rick

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