How should a physician indicate that an abnormal test result was observed?

When a physician observes an abnormal test result, circling and signing the abnormal result provides a clear and direct way to indicate its significance. This action not only highlights the finding but also serves as an affirmation by the physician that they have reviewed and acknowledged the abnormality. Signing it adds a layer of accountability and ensures that others who examine the report will see that the physician has noted it as important, reinforcing the finding's relevance to patient care.

Circling the result emphasizes it visually, making it difficult for anyone reviewing the test results—be it other medical staff or the physician at a later date—to overlook the abnormality. This practice is a common standard in medical documentation, promoting effective communication within the healthcare team.

Documenting it in the patient's chart is important, but without immediate emphasis on the abnormality, it may lack the prompt awareness needed for timely clinical intervention. Notifying the patient directly is crucial, but it should follow the clear identification of the result in the medical record. Highlighting the result on the computer report is useful, but physical notations such as circling and signing provide a traditional and universally understood method of drawing attention to critical findings.