Australia RACGP Standards for General Practices (5th edition) GP2.2: Follow-up systems: incoming pathology, imaging, investigation reports and clinical correspondence are reviewed and notated or signed, with action recorded; patients with clinically significant results are recalled; patients are told the practice's follow-up process; the practice runs patient reminders; and high-risk results arriving outside opening hours are managed

What does GP2.2 require?

Results that nobody acts on are a leading cause of harm in general practice. Every incoming result and item of clinical correspondence is reviewed by a clinician, annotated electronically or initialled on paper, and the action taken recorded. Clinically significant results trigger a recall with documented attempts to reach the patient, escalating in urgency and recording the outcome, and the patient's own responsibility is explained so they know to ask about results. The practice operates a reminder system for preventive and chronic care, with patient consent, and reviews that reminders are sent. For seriously abnormal or life-threatening results received when the practice is closed there is an arrangement, with the pathology or imaging provider and an on-call clinician or deputising service, to ensure immediate action.