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We have been seeing OBSTERM values that have (?) embedded in them for some time now. It's not entirely clear where the additional "(?)" are coming from. They are not in the raw HL7 or in the LinkLogic processed lab results file. They are visible in a FlowSheet and are returned as part of the value when any OBSTERM MEL function is called. For example, OBSANY("ABSOLUTECD4") returns "960 (?)". The other odd part is that there are no units visible in the FlowSheet, even though OBSUNIT("ABSOLUTECD4") returns "#/uL".
Thoughts?
Posted : November 30, 2016 11:22 am
Might be trying to display the observation date and it is unavailable. From your question, it is implied that the OBSTERM is getting populated via an HL7 message. If you have any database skills, you can run a query against the Table that stores the observation term for the labs to see if it is storing the date properly. I'd be happy to connect some time via a webex and take a look at this together.
Posted : November 30, 2016 1:13 pm
Topic starter
I did query the tables directly and everything looks fine. I didn't look at the date specifically, but the date was being represented correctly in Centricity. The (?) is actually being stored in the value field. That field actually contains the value "960 (?)”, for example. The one oddity is that the HL7 seems to not have any units. Could that be what's going on here?
Posted : November 30, 2016 1:21 pm
I think you are on the right track. Check the type of OBSTERM it is storing the value in (OBSHEAD table if I'm not mistaken). It will either be numeric or text. This may or may not make a difference but might come into play if you notice other lab values aren't having the issue of the (?) appearing next to value. If you have a test environment, you could get a copy of one of the HL7 messages that was processed and use a text editor to insert a unit value and then process the message against the test patient or manually modify the OBS term record in the table and insert valid units. I would obviously only do this in a test environment. :). I suspect the flowsheet expects to see units but they aren't there. There is another table called OBSVAL that is used to store numeric values so that numeric observations can be plotted. You might check that table for the same OBSTERM to see how the value is stored there.
Posted : November 30, 2016 2:06 pm
Are you sure these are not coming from an interface?
I have seen the 'units' embedded in the value when the units coming from the interface do not match the units linked to the observation term.
Is it possible the HL file is sending the ?.
Posted : December 1, 2016 5:48 am
Topic starter
I'm absolutely certain that the HL7 does not contain '(?)'.
@virtualHITman Thanks! I'll have to investigate the table differences and run the tests you suggested against our test platform.
Posted : December 2, 2016 1:39 am
Topic starter
No they are definitely not in the HL7 data.
Posted : December 3, 2016 1:27 am
Topic starter
Yes I have db skills 😉 The date appears to be properly formatted and Centricity is returning it correctly.
Posted : December 3, 2016 1:30 am
The ? is from the obsterm expecting units. For example the obterm "HEIGHT" wants the units of the number and the word "in." meaning inches. This is auto added when putting this manually into GE but when you are trying to pull it in from a portal or some sort of other data entry and have it cross the HL7, GE's obsterms are expecting units-- there are a select few I know of that need units (HEIGHT and WEIGHT come to mind off the top of my head. Hope that helps- Amy
Posted : December 9, 2016 8:55 am
