A Conversation With LIS System Administrator Kristie Becerra

Learning to share is an important part of growing up. It's a concept that teaches the values of compromise, fairness, and cooperation. In this context, sharing is universally accepted as a good practice because it strengthens social ties and a person's well-being.

In theory, sharing benefits everyone involved. However, when it comes to sharing mission-critical laboratory information system (LIS) software with another healthcare organization, the situation becomes more complex and deserves closer examination.

As one might expect, this type of arrangement can be fraught with issues, especially when it comes to sharing access and control.

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Background: Pathology Consultants and the Shared Lab Information System Dilemma 

That was the case for Pathology Consultants, a multi-subspecialty independent pathology practice that has served Oregon's western medical community since 1932. Before November 2021, the group, with nine pathologists, had been providing diagnostic pathology services to patients and providers in the region while sharing a medical laboratory information system with another group affiliated with the same health system.

What follows is a recent discussion with Kristie Becerra, LIS System Administrator at Pathology Consultants. Here, she described what lab life was like before partnering with LigoLab, an LIS company specializing in the development of advanced diagnostic lab software and modern medical laboratory solutions for independent clinical laboratories and pathology groups.

During the conversation, Becerra, who has been with Pathology Consultants for more than two decades, explained how LigoLab's advanced laboratory information system platform helped transform a complex challenge into an opportunity for greater independence, enhanced operational control, and improved workflow efficiency and productivity. 

Laboratory Information System Q&A With Kristie Becerra 

What key factors prompted a move away from a shared LIS system and toward the LigoLab platform?

We were interested because at the time we shared our LIS system with another PeaceHealth-affiliated pathology group. They hosted much of the backend, including servers and IT support, which limited our authority and control over the system.

Eventually, we learned that PeaceHealth was planning to replace the LIS system with another one. At that point, we had to go along with them or go off on our own. That's when the final decision was made to venture out independently.

Why was LigoLab the best laboratory information system for your group?

We chose LigoLab because it empowers us to manage every aspect of our operation within a single dynamic, flexible laboratory information system. With LigoLab, we can drive our vision for growth without limitations.

The old LIS system was solely an anatomic pathology LIS, but despite that limitation, we were still running some clinical tests. We saw bringing in more clinical tests as a growth opportunity and needed a modern laboratory information system software to support that growth.

What was the implementation experience like for you and other staffers?

There was a bit of a divide at first, as you would expect with such a significant operational change. Some found it very exciting, while others were resistant to change.

I embraced this advanced pathology lab software opportunity because it unlocked new opportunities, streamlined our processes, and raised quality standards. LigoLab's platform has made our team more proactive, responsive, and collaborative, delivering advantages beyond technology alone.

What are some examples of successful business growth since going live with LigoLab’s informatics platform in 2021?

We added three different PCR tests, a new platform, and a new reporting style, and were able to custom-develop that with the help of LigoLab's support team.

The tests support our anatomic pathology department. As an example, when we diagnose cancer, sometimes there's additional testing that needs to be done to determine the course of treatment.

Before LigoLab, those tests went to outside labs. Tracking the volume proved it was more financially prudent to run them ourselves. Results now come back faster, clinicians facilitate treatment decisions sooner, and we use scarce tumor tissue more efficiently.

We work with a large oncology group, Willamette Valley Cancer Center, that serves the whole state of Oregon. Many of their patients travel long distances to see them. They're a major part of our business, and we're committed to supporting them and that program, which is another reason why we added more clinical testing.

How else has your business improved since partnering with LigoLab?

We handle a high volume of dermatopathology cases, and before implementing LigoLab, the two dermatopathologists who alternate coverage for that service routinely worked long hours. After transitioning to LigoLab, they experienced significant efficiency gains that streamlined their workflow and reduced the burden of managing that workload. 

We utilized the LigoLab platform to connect the micro-diagnosis to the final diagnosis and automatically attach the CPT and ICD-10 codes. We also created a ton of templates for them. There was a learning curve, but as we got them going, they began to see its value.

They were the first of our pathologists to discover the game-changing benefits of the new LIS system and now confidently state they could not manage our derm volume without it. Thanks to LigoLab, they finish work at reasonable hours, no matter the workload.

On the coding side, before LigoLab, we checked every single case and every test that we ran. We looked at the results documentation and the codes before manually applying them to each case.

The audit review process for coding has now been significantly streamlined. Instead of reviewing every single case, we audit only a few areas to confirm that the coding is populated and matches the diagnosis.

We've also taken advantage of LigoLab's powerful reporting options, enabling us to deliver highly customized, impactful reports to clients. This capability demonstrates our commitment to exceeding expectations and staying competitive.

This has significantly helped our Health Information Management (HIM) department. Before LigoLab, they had to search for those reports manually. Now it's just a couple of clicks, and the LigoLab platform generates the reports for them.

Can you share more details about the templates created to assist the pathologists?

Dermatopathology can be repetitive. Take basal cell carcinoma. Our dermatopathologists may see 60 or more cases a day. The slide patterns are similar, so the description and diagnosis rarely change; only the margin sizes do.

We designed templates using the precise language our pathologists prefer, creating a seamless and efficient reporting process. This custom approach directly supports exceptional diagnostic accuracy and team satisfaction.

When they enter the final diagnosis, the microscopic description auto-populates. If something needs tweaking, they jump into that section and make the edit.

This workflow is faster than reviewing the slide, dictating the microscopic, and then spell-checking the voice recognition output. Those small enhancements add up to significant time savings.

Early on, LigoLab's support team helped create the templates. Now I'm proficient, and our HIM team and I can build them on our own.

Editor’s Note: Before her current role as LIS System Administrator, Becerra served as the lab's HIM Manager.

How else does your pathology group use LigoLab’s LIS system platform to improve lab efficiency?

We leverage LigoLab's powerful synoptic reporting for other anatomic pathology cases, a feature that simplifies workflows by removing repetitive steps and boosting efficiency. Maximizing MIPS revenue while enhancing care is now within easy reach.

Now that we're reaping the rewards with our dermpaths, our next focus will be on GI (gastrointestinal). It's another high-volume area for us that we'd like to improve with templates now that we've truly seen their benefits.

Our ultimate ambition is to standardize diagnostic reporting across the board. This approach not only empowers clients with actionable data but also enables us to consistently meet compliance and quality standards, driving meaningful results for everyone involved.

What’s the biggest difference between the LigoLab platform and the previous lab information system that you were using?

The biggest advantage is the ability to tailor our LIS system to fit our needs perfectly. LigoLab enables us to achieve that with unmatched flexibility and control.

Has LigoLab’s support team been helpful, and can it quickly assist whenever needed?

Anytime I've communicated that I have an urgent issue, they've responded appropriately.

The transition from daily implementation contact to a handoff to the support team was challenging for us, but LigoLab was very accommodating throughout the period. The support team responded and met our needs.

I'm perfectly comfortable with submitting a support ticket. I usually receive a response right away, saying at the very least that they've received the ticket and will be working on the issue.

How long did it take for you to become fully aware of Ligolab’s core laboratory information system functions?

I still come across things that surprise me in a good way. I often refer to the Confluence manual that accompanies the LIS software. I find that very helpful.

Editor’s Note: The Confluence manual mentioned by Becerra is embedded in the LigoLab platform, providing users with easy-to-access workflow guides, reference manuals, frequently asked questions, and more.

Do you have any final thoughts about LigoLab and how the platform has helped to enhance your pathology lab business?

We've experienced steady growth in both testing volume and the breadth of our test menu, which has been a positive development for the business. Overall, we're very pleased with the platform. While there have been a few minor issues along the way, we haven't found another solution on the market that delivers the same level of functionality, flexibility, and value as LigoLab. 

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About Pathology Consultants

Pathology Consultants is a thriving pathology practice based in Springfield, Oregon. For over 90 years, the group has provided evidence-based diagnostic pathology services to patients and providers in the region.

PC’s pathologists have expertise in multiple subspecialty areas of pathology and routinely partner with oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists to deliver up-to-date, multidisciplinary cancer care to patients from across Oregon. Pathology Consultants is a thriving pathology practice based in Springfield, Oregon. For over 90 years, the group has provided evidence-based diagnostic pathology services to patients and providers in the region.

PC's pathologists have expertise in multiple subspecialty areas of pathology and routinely partner with oncologists, surgeons, and radiologists to deliver up-to-date, multidisciplinary cancer care to patients from across Oregon.

LigoLab's All-in-One Medical LIS and Laboratory Billing Informatics Platform

The LigoLab Informatics Platform is an all-in-one laboratory information system and laboratory revenue cycle management solution designed to help pathology groups and clinical labs digitally transform into modern, efficient organizations that are more productive and more profitable.

This enterprise-grade LIS software platform features embedded modules for anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, molecular diagnostics, laboratory billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing, all tied together by an integrated lab database software infrastructure that eliminates silos and efficiently manages all departments and operations with maximum interoperability.

The LigoLab platform also features powerful rules and automation engines that enable users to build custom workflows to automate complex processes and improve turnaround times.

Make Your LIS a System of Action

LigoLab offers an all-in-one informatics platform that creates highly efficient, automated labs. Contact a product specialist today and request to see it in action.

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