We've all heard the saying, "No news is good news," meaning that not hearing about something suggests that nothing bad has happened. However, when it comes to your health care, this is a dangerous saying to follow.

Take this story as a sobering example. A primary care practice discovered that results from Pap tests conducted during summer 2008 were just received in May 2009. Physicians report that such results typically are slow in arriving because they are mailed and not faxed. Sadly, several test results were abnormal, yet no patients called to inquire about their results.

Should abnormalities, illnesses or other health issues go undetected due to unreported test results, you may lose valuable employees' time and productivity to health problems that could have been less severe or even eliminated. Plus, I know you're aware that the longer a health condition goes untreated, the more it costs you and your health plan.

To help reduce problems going untreated, empower your employees by informing them about their rights as a health care consumer. Here are some suggestions to share with employees regarding health care testing:

1. Before any tests are performed, ask health care providers about their policy for receiving test results. Some practices prefer to give patients results in person, others over the phone, by e-mail or via the testing facility.

2. Know specifically how and when results will be available, instead of just waiting for a health care provider to send them. Physicians' offices are busy places and unfortunately, it is up to patients to get the information they need.

3. Give it time. I know this is easier said than done, but not every test result can be reported immediately. For Pap smear reports, for example, the lab needs time to prepare and analyze the tissue. Further, the information gained from any test often is limited without full knowledge of your medical history and physical exam results. Providers may need to discuss this information and the test results with other doctors to arrive at an accurate interpretation - all of which takes time. A safe rule is to allow a week for results from most tests.

4. Patients should let their doctor know who, what, when, where, and how.

Leave a specific message stating what test was done, when, where, and how to reach you, providing all phone numbers and preferred times for them to call. Also, be clear about what information may be left on an answering machine or voicemail.

Suggest making a phone appointment to review the results, which can save time, stress and phone-tag hassle. Even if the results are complex and perhaps yield bad news, patients can start making a plan of action.

If appropriate, suggest making an appointment to see the provider in person for a more complete discussion.

5. State that you want to know the results - even if the results are normal. Make it clear that you want to hear any and all results. Do not assume that "no news is good news."

6. Keep track of your own medical records. Make sure to get copies of all reports and, if appropriate and necessary, images of the tests themselves (such as CT or MRI scans).

Rather than living by, "No news is good news," encourage employees to follow the saying, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Contributing Editor Betty Long is a registered nurse and founder of Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates, a health care advocacy firm that has helped thousands of patients navigate the health care system and saved millions of dollars in health care costs.