I.  PURPOSE
 

To establish Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) laboratory testing policy and procedures on ordering, documentation, and use of external laboratory services for DMH providers and clients.

Contracted agencies shall develop an internal policy and associated procedures that are consistent with their organizational practices and meet the requirements set forth in this policy.
 

II.  DEFINITIONS
 

DMH Provider: A DMH clinician licensed as a healthcare provider with a scope of practice that includes authorization to order clinical laboratory services. These include physicians (MD/DO), nurse practitioners (NP), clinical pharmacists (CP), advanced practice pharmacists (APP), and physician assistants (PA).

Contractor: An agency that has a Board of Supervisors approved agreement with DMH to provide mental health and related services.
 

III.  POLICY
 

All external laboratory studies must be ordered through DMH systems/processes.

All external laboratory studies ordered by DMH Providers must be performed by either DMH contracted laboratory services vendors, or by other DMH approved laboratory services specifically authorized to perform the studies.

All external laboratory orders by DMH Providers and results must be entered into the electronic medical record within one (1) business day.

For all critical laboratory reporting, refer to DMH Policy 354.01.
 

IV.  PROCEDURES
 

No procedures are associated with this policy.
 

V.  AUTHORITY