Where are patient's test results typically found in practice?

Patient test results are typically found in the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The EHR system is designed to consolidate a patient’s medical information, including test results, medications, treatment history, and other health data, into a single digital format. This allows healthcare providers to easily access and review a patient's test results as part of their overall medical history, ensuring quick decision-making and continuity of care.

While patient portals do provide access to test results directly to patients, the primary location for storing this information is within the EHR, which is managed by the healthcare provider. Paper files are becoming less common as healthcare organizations transition to digital record-keeping, making them a less efficient and accessible option for retrieving test results. Billing software is primarily focused on billing and payment processes and does not usually contain a patient's clinical test results. Thus, the EHR stands out as the correct answer for where patient test results are routinely maintained and accessed.