We’ve tried several methods of charting blood test results to visually depict functional reference ranges versus lab reference ranges to aid interpretation and provide to patients. Initially we used a custom Word document template, but found it to be rather time consuming. Doctor’s Choice and Science-Based Nutrition and other commercial options are useful, but we cannot input our own functional ranges. Do you use custom software or have another system for charting functional ranges?

Chris Kresser:  I don’t. We are kind of old school. I guess we’re a step up from a Word document. We have a fillable PDF document. The way it works is when the case review lab panel comes back, staff is trained on how to input the values from the LabCorp report into the blood chemistry PDF template. We’re going to give you that template, by the way, that fillable PDF form, and you may even be able to generate it with your own branding on it in the PDF generator. I’m not sure about that yet because we’re trying to investigate if fillable PDFs can be run through the PDF generator, but if they can be, you’ll be able to put your own branding on that PDF template. We’re also working with Ben from MD HQ to figure out a way of doing that within MD HQ, and even better, that would allow us to chart results over time. If it’s within MD HQ in a database format and then Ben can work out a simple kind of charting system that takes values from the database and plots them on a graph, that’s kind of the Shangri-La, so that as clinicians we can just quickly pull up the chart and see how the values have evolved and changed over time.

This is something I’m really interested in, and Dr. Schweig, my co-director at the clinic, is really passionate about this kind of data reporting and use of technology in medicine, and it’s something we’re actively working on. So just know that anything that we come up with in that area we are definitely going to share with you.