Electronic requesting: pathology and radiology

E-Requesting is a process that transfers typed and written requests from general practice clinical information systems (CISs) directly to the nominated pathology or diagnostic imaging provider, via secure electronic communication. Depending on your service provider, Electronic Requesting may also be called Electronic Ordering, e-Requesting or e-Ordering with each having their own software application features.

Electronic ordering process diagram

e-Requesting benefits

The ability to e-request can save busy practices time, while also reducing clinical risks and improving communication, particularly for patients. With the rise of telehealth and e-Referrals, e-Requesting ensures continued access to diagnostic imaging services. The quick, electronic transfer of information minimises administrative burdens such as faxing, excessive paperwork and handling calls about lost requests. In addition to:

  • Reduced ordering and processing time with increased data accuracy:
    • test order list is specific to each provider and recommended tests available for medical conditions
    • live tracking of requested and pending orders, set favourites, predictive search, view patient history
    • no manual transcription of orders by the lab
    • naming of results returned precisely match the requests ordered by the GP.
  • No or minimal change to the existing requesting workflow for healthcare providers.
  • Other GPs, hospitals, specialists and healthcare practitioners and patients are able to view pathology results via My Health Record.
  • Consumers no longer having to phone labs and providers requesting copies of reports.
  • A potentially faster collection experience for the consumer.
  • Empower patients to participate in their healthcare, make it easier for providers to coordinate care and make clinical decisions.

e-Referral start up process      

Step 1: Installation 
Contact the Electronic Requesting enabled pathology or radiology provider to connect your practice’s software with the e-Requesting system. Note, the provider will need access to your clinic’s server and you may need to speak to your IT manager to allow this. In most instances you will be required to book a time/request for the remote installation by the participating lab, which supports the integration of their system into PMS such as Medical Director and Best Practice software. Ensure that your practice clinical software is updated to the most recent version and that your practice clinical software is connected to the Healthcare Identifiers (HI) Service.

Click here for a list of participating organisations including providers who share pathology and diagnostic imaging reports with My Health Record.

Step 2: Send e-Referral
Once installed, the provider can help you to use the new process to create a new referral by opening the request function in the patient file of your PMS. Once all relevant clinical information has been entered, finalise the e-Request using the clearly labelled buttons on the referral template. Your request is then authenticated, encrypted, and delivered straight to your collaborative service provider. You can also print out a hard copy of the image request for your patient, if preferred.

Step 3: Patient booking 
Your patient then attends the service provider, where all the relevant details are already in the system. Many service providers have enhanced capabilities including texting patients with links to their online appointment system or the follow up with patients if their appointment has not been scheduled.

Step 4: Scan completed 
After your patient’s examination, results are sent back to the requester, effectively ‘closing the loop’. 

Resources for general practice

Important updates

  • Clinical Labs announced they are able to email pathology forms to patients as part of the ePatholgy process via clinical software: At this stage, only available for Medical Director Clinical 3.18 and above.
  • Barrett & Smith (Douglass Hanly Moir) Pathology continue to SMS patients with requests once received from enabled practices.

How we can help

We have resources to assist healthcare providers to self-connect to ePathology and are happy to answer any questions. Email digitalhealth@murrayphn.org.au for support.

Last Update: December 17th, 2024

Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).

We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.

We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.