SteadyMD uses the critical values established by Quest Diagnostics for participant contact. These values have been reviewed and approved by the SteadyMD Medical Director, the medical advisory board, and the provider network. SteadyMD provides Quest Diagnostics with alert lab result values that, based on their Practice of Medicine guidelines, trigger participant follow-up contact. Quest Diagnostics has reviewed, accepted and published these alert triggers under contract guidelines with SteadyMD.
While employers can opt to provide their own medical oversight, Quest Diagnostics works with SteadyMD as the standard provider who oversees lab test ordering, results review, and critical alert calls. The SteadyMD network consists of hundreds of doctors, nurses, and therapists in all 50 states.
How does physician oversight work?
SteadyMD ensures that an in-state physician oversees the lab test requisitioning, results review, and alerting of patients regarding any critical results. This is accomplished via a secure, Internet-based, HL7 data transfer interface and connectivity platform that is HIPAA-compliant. SteadyMD also provides compliance. This comprehensive approach to physician oversight, provided in partnership with SteadyMD and their physician network, set the standard relative to health screenings in the employer channel and further provides an auditable “closed loop” data flow for compliance.
The physician oversight process
- Provider reviews the screening request and orders the lab tests. If a participant has a critical (life-threatening) value, a provider calls the participant as soon as the results are available
- If a participant has an alert value (an elevated result but not critical), a provider calls the participant the day after the results are available
- The SteadyMD provider will make 3 attempts to reach the participant by phone
- If the participant is unable to be reached via phone, he/she will receive a letter from SteadyMD regarding the alert value
Frequently Asked Questions
SteadyMD’s nationwide provider network authorizes the lab testing process via protocols. The providers review the requests, order the tests, review the results, and oversee outbound communications to all participants with abnormal and critical results.
SteadyMD staff, acting under the guidance of the ordering physicians, makes all phone calls, and sends all letters that are necessary for critical values. In the event that a client wishes to have its medical staff handle this outreach service on its own, SteadyMD will work with the client to provide appropriate direction so that it can adhere to SteadyMD standards on participant outreach and provide SteadyMD with the appropriate documentation to confirm compliance.
Protocols drive the outreach process. If a lab test result is critical (eg, life threatening), SteadyMD receives a call from Quest Diagnostics as soon as the result is available, and then SteadyMD calls the participant, regardless of the time of day. If a lab test result is NOT critical, but is an “alert” level abnormal result, (eg, non life-threatening), the participant is called the next business day during normal business hours.
SteadyMD staff will make 3 attempts, one per day, to contact a participant. After the third attempt, SteadyMD will mail a letter to the participant notifying them that they have alert level abnormal results and advising them to follow up with their primary care physician.
The SteadyMD staff member identifies him or herself as a representative at SteadyMD, calling to alert the participant of an urgent lab test result from their recent employer-sponsored Quest Diagnostics biometric screening. The representative asks the participant if they would like to review the lab results from their recent blood draw. The SteadyMD representative then verifies the participant’s name and date of birth to validate their identity.
SteadyMD conveys the results that are out of range and provides them the normal value ranges for context. The SteadyMD representative strongly advises the participant to take their results to their primary care physician for follow-up.
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