Technology must have ushered in a new era in all aspects of life. Its significant impact on biomedicine, healthcare, cytogenetics, and pharmaceutical companies has saved lives, discovered treatments for chronic diseases, and improved living conditions for people who are physically or mentally disabled. Technology is at the heart of today’s medical systems and medical science, from essential diagnostic equipment to hospital or laboratory management software, artificial limbs, or AI-powered diagnostics and treatment.
A laboratory information system (LIS) is a specialized way to store and manage clinical laboratory, industrial, and medical information and perform critical laboratory processes. It aims to automate the majority of laboratory processes, such as test requests, and sample management. And delivery, reporting systems, test scheduling, payments, and result generation. LIS stores, tracks, or updates clinical and anatomic biopsy details for patients and uses this information for future reference.How IT is Changing Laboratory Management
Laboratories can dramatically increase testing management or patient services by reducing stress, streamlining processes, or giving single-click customer service by effectively utilizing information technology.
Here are ten ways that information technology is transforming science lab management:
1. Accessibility to technology
Recent technological advancements have given healthcare facilities a significant competitive advantage. Healthcare facilities and clinical laboratories are now utilizing a centralized competitive advantage. Healthcare facilities and clinical laboratories are now operating centralized cloud-based lab information systems via private clouds and third-party cloud services to calibrate patient data from numerous locations. Because of the ease of access that cloud technology provides, it is possible to obtain necessary information from just about any device and keep improving workflow efficiency.
2. Operational Scalability of the technology
As research labs expand their capabilities to meet an unexpected surge in patient diagnostics, new infrastructure will be required to adapt quickly to these changes. Companies that provide virtualized LIS systems operate on a pay-as-you-go basis.
3. Increased Accuracy by Technology
The majority of laboratory errors are caused by clerical errors all through sample collection, testing, and reporting. By automating repetitive tasks, digital processes decrease human errors and boost accuracy. To reduce the possibility of entering superficial values, each test provides or validates reference ranges during data entry.
4. Real-Time Sample Tracking
The patient’s record is updated when a specimen is taken, or the sample would be bar-coded. Experiment Information Systems streamlines its sample handling process, allowing operators to track samples in real-time. This reduces the possibility of losing, exchanging or wasting patient samples.
5. Platform unification
Lab information systems include a single platform for all laboratory disciplines. Various laboratory subdepartments are linked to either a centralized online application or a back-end database. As a result, the fulfillment of a single request containing multiple blood tests, ultrasounds, or anatomic pathology could be followed and tracked via a single platform. Unified platforms enable real-time and seamless data sharing as well as cross-discipline analytics.
6. Concentrate on critical reports
The embedded lab information system can efficiently separate important reports from regular groups due to its approach to automation or digital data entry. This allows staff to prioritize critical updates for doctor approval, saving time and effort. The extent of urgency specified for each survey also assists laboratories in expediting the testing process. For tests that also require immediate attention, information systems can produce alerts and notifications.
7. Observance of Medical Standards
Medical standards are used to develop integrated information systems. Such systems ensure adherence to government rules and regulations for patient care, as well as sample storage and disposal.
8. Reduced Registration Time
In traditional laboratories, one of the most time-consuming methods is sample registration and transfer, where staff must register samples before having to send them from the collection center. At processing centers, the survey is then re-registered. A dependable and effective lab information system can significantly reduce the processing time by employing a packet sample mechanism in which an entire pack of samples has been barcoded for transport and tracked.
9. Report generation or distribution in real-time
A centralized system facilitates the tracking of patient samples and reports, as well as the easy preparation of information based on built-in samples. With a single click, lab personnel can generate study statistics or send them to patients and physicians via a unified interface and computer-generated text and email messages. Most computer-controlled systems do not require staff approval and distribute findings as soon as the appropriate doctor approves them.
Last Thoughts about technology
Technology has caused a paradigm shift in the healthcare industry. The latest advances and the application of new technology enable laboratories to streamline their processes in order to provide more value to their patients, increase accuracy, or increase the efficacy of laboratory services. Before implementing a LIS mechanism, laboratories must assess the system’s long-term value or ensure it meets the fundamental requirements. More labs should embrace technology in order to scale their operations, improve efficiency, or maximize profitability.
