Laboratory reports are essential for diagnosing, monitoring, and treating patients. In Canvas, labs are managed through the Data Integration system, which ensures accurate linking of lab results to patient charts. While electronic lab results are automatically linked to patients when all identifiers match, manual intervention is required when identifiers do not align. This guide explains how to manage, review, edit, and remove lab reports, as well as how to link results to lab orders.
Electronic labs are automatically linked to patient charts when all patient identifiers (MRN, Name, DOB) match.
Follow this process for any lab results that do not automatically associate due to mismatching patient identifiers.
Access the triple-line menu located at the top-left corner and choose Data Integration.
Select the Lab icon to filter for unlinked electronic lab results.
Locate and select the desired lab to open the linking modal. The patient lookup field will appear on the left side, along with a PDF preview on the right.
Search for and select the patient using the Link to Patient field. The lab result will then be linked to the patient and removed from the list of unlinked results.
If the results are not associated with any patient in the practice click Can't Find Patient to remove the results from the list
Lab results can be reviewed through the Schedule View or the patient's chart
Navigate to the badge icons on the top-right of the Schedule View.
A red badge above the lab icon indicates pending lab reports for review.
Click the Lab icon to display assigned lab reports.
Select the desired lab report card to open a modal with a PDF preview on the right and review fields on the left.
Complete the following fields:
Patient Message: The message visible to the patient. (Character limit: 2048).
Patient Communication: The method of communication for the message.
Internal Comment: Notes visible only to internal staff. (Character limit: 2048).
Click Sign to create a chart review note in the patient’s chart and close the modal.
Open the patient’s chart and locate the badge icons on the top-right.
Select the Lab icon to display lab reports in the action pane.
New results are marked with a red dot.
Expand the desired lab card to access options such as:
PDF: Open the report in a new tab.
Assigned: Change the assignee.
Edit: Modify report details.
Review: Insert a review command into the note.
Remove: Delete the lab report.
Select Review to populate the review command fields and sign off when complete.
In the Lab Review Modal, the reviewer can see the document itself along with fields that need to be completed as part of the review process. After filling in the necessary details, the reviewer can sign off on the report, completing the review and adding the lab review command to the note.
Lab reports can be updated through the patient chart or Schedule View.
Navigate to the patient chart or Schedule View and locate the Lab icon
Select the desired lab report card and expand it
Click Edit to open a modal for any modifications
Report Name
Date
Comments
Document Type
Navigate to the patient chart or Schedule View and locate the Lab icon.
Select the desired lab report card and expand it.
Click the downward arrow next to Edit and select Remove.
Confirm removal in the dialog box. The lab report is unlinked from the patient chart.
Lab results can be linked to lab orders in several ways to provide clinical context and ensure accurate data.
Lab tests ordered through Health Gorilla are assigned a unique identifier.
Lab results received electronically with matching identifiers are linked automatically with the order.
On a lab report card, click Link to Order.
Select the appropriate lab order from the dropdown menu of unlinked orders.
The lab report updates to display the linked order details, including the ordering provider’s name.
To change or remove a link, click Edit and use the options to update the order.
Q: When is manual linking necessary?
A: Manual linking is required when patient identifiers do not match or when results are manually uploaded.
Q: Can lab reports be reassigned to another reviewer?
A: Yes, reports can be reassigned by clicking the assignee’s name on the lab report card and selecting a new reviewer from the dropdown menu.
Q: Do lab values need to be included when adding lab results manually?
A: This is a decision to be made by the practice. Documenting lab values is best for tracking historical results whether through the patient panel or through the diagnostic theater.
Q: Do the results have to be linked to the order?
A: The order can be linked to the result to close the loop and make sure orders are not outstanding. Also, it is necessary if the practice is using this information for reporting purposes.
Keywords & Metadata
Keywords: Lab results, lab report management, Canvas Medical, Data Integration, linking lab orders, patient chart, lab review process, manual linking, Health Gorilla, lab report editing.
Categories: Laboratory Management, Data Integration, Patient Records, Workflow Optimization.