Educational notes and comments appended to cytology reports

Effective communication between laboratories and clinical providers is a key element of successful cervical cancer screening. Laboratorians and clinicians have a shared responsibility to remain current in their field and communicate significant changes in their respective disciplines to one another. When pathologists serve as consultants to health-care providers, giving appropriate advice on screening and follow-up tests, the patient is the beneficiary. The use of written recommendations and/or comments in cervical cytology reports is optional. When included in the cytology report, they must be worded carefully and relay clear, concise, current, evidence-based information. In the second edition of the Bethesda atlas, it was recommended that such comments be directed to the clinician and that the laboratorian/laboratory not communicate directly with the patient unless specifically instructed to do so. In the United States, as of 2014, there are changes to the rules regarding patient access to test reports. In addition, standardization of reports to facilitate widespread electronic health record implementation has been encouraged. These changes may have further implications for the use of recommendations in pathology reports, and a relevant discussion is now included.