Effective Communication of Urgent Diagnoses and Significant Unexpected Diagnoses

Six expert consensus statements have been developed to assist anatomic pathologists in the creation of a separate policy regarding urgent diagnoses and significant, unexpected diagnoses in anatomic pathology that is separate from critical results or panic-value policies in clinical pathology. Consideration of the specific urgent or unexpected diagnoses to include in such a policy and the plan to communicate these diagnoses to patient care providers are addressed.

We collaborated to develop the "Consensus Statement on Effective Communication of Urgent Diagnoses and Significant, Unexpected Diagnoses in Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology" published in Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine in 2012. After a comprehensive review process, this consensus statement was reaffirmed by both organizations in June 2017.

Guideline status: Active
Published online ahead of print: October 13, 2011
Originally published: February 2012
Reaffirmed: May 2017
Collaborator: Association of Directors of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology

Download the following tools and resources to help implement the guideline:

• Summary of Recommendations
• Methodology Supplement (Supplemental Digital Content)
• Reaffirmation Summary – May 2017