OurPractice Advisory added to Epic for Glycohemoglobin (A1c) orders, improves care and limits costs
22 Mar 2026Starts March 23
By: Karl Kamper, MT(ASCP), MBA, FACHE, System Director of Clinical Support Operations; and Andrew Judd, MD, Medical Director Salem Health Laboratories
A new OurPractice Advisory (OPA) decision support benefit will be added to Epic on March 23 to help reduce unnecessary laboratory tests and support high-value patient care.
When a Glycohemoglobin (A1c) order is placed, the EMR will automatically check for a previously resulted glycohemoglobin results within the past 90 days.
If a recent test is found, clinicians will see:
- The date of the most recent HA1C
- The corresponding result value
- A recommendation to avoid repeat testing within the 90-day interval
This enhancement is part of our ongoing innovation to reimagine patient care. Reducing duplicate testing helps limit avoidable costs and minimizes patient burden without compromising clinical quality.
While the default selection will be to cancel the test request, clinicians will continue to have full discretion to override the alert when repeat testing is medically appropriate. The goal is to provide timely information at the point of care while preserving clinical judgment and thoughtful resource stewardship.
See screenshot example below:
