Abstract: A network-based system and method for ordering and cumulative results reporting of medical tests includes a computer operated at a physician location (such as a hospital or physician office) to order tests, retrieve and store statistical data or status the progress of previously ordered tests, and at least one labsite computer for receiving physician requests for tests and reporting their results. The physician computer and labsite computer are interconnected by a computer network. The physician computer receives a physician or user request for ordering a test, causes a test request message to be sent to the labsite computer, causes a request for statistical data to be sent to the network, and receives statistical data from the network. The labsite computer is programmed to receive a test request message and to cause a test results message or a test status message to be sent to the physician computer.

Abstract: A patient report generating system for receiving, storing and reporting medical test data for an entire patient population by periodically forming individual patient reports containing all test results for each patient for the total time period during which the patient has been a member of the patient population. Each report is organized to present the cumulative test data in a highly compact pattern of data packages wherein each data package includes only results of tests making up a particular organ system disease related subset of tests. The disclosed apparatus includes a data entry terminal, such as a keyboard input, for generating a digital electrical field for each test which field identifies the test, the test results, the date of the test and the patient. Also included is a random access memory for receiving and storing all signal fields and a high speed printer for forming a hard copy of the patient report from the stored data.