Case Study
Pathology Lab Management Guide: Find Out How Experts Utilize Best Practices to Thrive
September 26, 2025
Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published on April 28, 2020.
Since 2006, LigoLab has partnered with anatomic pathology, clinical, and molecular diagnostics testing organizations to deliver advanced laboratory information systems (LIS software) and laboratory billing solutions (lab revenue cycle management). Working alongside some of the most innovative laboratories in the country, we’ve built deep expertise in pathology lab management and continuously evolved our all-in-one medical LIS & lab RCM platform to meet the industry’s changing needs.
By staying closely connected with our partners, we ensure our platform grows with them, enhancing service, streamlining workflows, and supporting better patient care. At the same time, these labs are constantly rethinking and refining their own operations, as in this field, nothing stays the same.
Discover More: The Four Most Important Things to Consider When Modernizing a Laboratory This post is part of a three-part series on laboratory challenges and the LIS software solutions helping labs grow faster despite industry headwinds. If you missed the first two, catch up here:
Pathology Lab Management: Guide, Part 1: Best Laboratory Information System Software and Practices
Pathology Lab Management Guide, Part 3: The Future of Digital Pathology
More LIS System Survey Results
A few weeks back, we asked our partner labs to highlight recent changes in laboratory workflow management that have improved their efficiency and production levels.
Today, we’re focusing on the issues these labs face daily and examining how they measure production and identify inefficiencies.
Jacie R. (LIS Administrator - Baton Rouge, LA)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“Our pathology department is short-staffed, and it’s challenging to implement new ideas. Validation of new antibodies, equipment, and digital pathology is very time-consuming for our pathologists.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“LigoLab reports are crucial in measuring employee performance. Productivity reports can be generated, enabling lab managers to compare employees for each task. We use these for end-of-year evaluations and to identify inefficiencies in our lab workflow or of certain employees.”
Pam E. (Billing Analyst - Pensacola, FL)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“Interfacing with one of our hospitals is a big challenge. Unfortunately, our hands are tied with the IT department at this hospital.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“We pull data from the LigoLab platform to track the efficiency of our employees and physicians.”
Stacey G. (Project Director - San Antonio, TX)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“Our biggest challenges are insurance groups with preferred laboratories, and getting the word out to the public about the innovative testing being performed within OUR laboratory.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“Through error tracking, daily/weekly/monthly volume monitoring, employee overtime, and quality measures.”
Steve F. (LIS Administrator - Santa Fe Springs, CA)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“California laws for smaller medical laboratories are holding our operation back.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“The flexibility of the LigoLab platform gives us the nimbleness we need to compete in our marketplace. Reporting functionality and distribution are robust, enabling us to drive value for our clients and sustain high business retention.”
Shamim A. (LIS Administrator- San Diego, CA)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“The biggest thing holding our lab back is that we use two different systems to process our work. We utilize one system for work received from a particular regional health system, and LigoLab for the rest of our business when applicable. We currently can’t interface directly with this health system to make our workflow processes smoother and simpler.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“They are mostly identified at the case level when examining workflows and places where potential problems may arise. Unless an issue is raised directly, we uncover it during a review and then work on correcting it. More often than not, the solution involves simplifying an existing process to make it easier to use.”
Darlene S. (Project Manager - Tampa, FL)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“Regulatory compliance is slow, and payments from third-party payers are very challenging. Consequently, it’s hard for us to obtain the funds for adequate investment into capital infrastructure and skilled personnel.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“Standard measures and key performance indicators. These include P/L statements, volume measurements, turnaround time, and client response.”
Roxane R. (Chief Administrative Officer - Baton Rouge, LA)
What are your challenges, frustrations, and obstacles?
“Our biggest challenge recently has been hiring enough pathologists to keep up with our business. Over the last year or so, we’ve had a few people retire, so we’ve been actively recruiting and hiring to build back up to where we need to be.”
How do you measure production and identify inefficiencies?
“This is measured by the number of specimens logged in and the number of blocks and slides produced daily in the histology lab. A daily manual system is in place to help distribute the workload. Reports are then periodically pulled from our separate lab revenue cycle management system and reviewed retrospectively.
Summary of Laboratory Information System Survey Results
Medical laboratories (across various locations) face unique yet overlapping challenges in their operations. For example, staffing shortages, regulatory constraints, and interfacing difficulties with external systems are recurring obstacles.
Most labs rely on structured reporting and performance tracking to measure productivity and identify inefficiencies. Many utilize the LigoLab platform for productivity reports and efficiency tracking, which aids in performance evaluations and workflow optimization. Others focus on key performance indicators such as turnaround times, error tracking, and financial statements to assess operational effectiveness.
While challenges persist, these laboratories are (constantly) in search of ways to refine processes and improve efficiency. Some identify bottlenecks at the case level and adjust workflows accordingly, while others implement manual tracking systems to distribute workloads effectively among pathologists.
Overall, leveraging laboratory information system technology, optimizing workflows, and addressing staffing and regulatory hurdles remain top priorities for these professionals as they work to enhance laboratory operations.
Discover More: What You Need to Know Before Contracting with a Laboratory Information System (LIS) Company
Contact a Laboratory Information System Product Specialist - Get Your Questions Answered
If you’re a lab director or manager ready to learn more about LigoLab's LIS system solutions, you should first explore this website for product details, features, and case studies. Next, reach out to LigoLab to connect with a product specialist and schedule an introductory call to discuss the present state of your lab environment.
Act Now: Contact a LigoLab Product Specialist!
