Learn How LigoLab’s LIS System Became the Centerpiece of Change for ECPC, a Thriving New England Pathology Practice

Editor’s Note: This article featuring Kristen Conley is the first of a two-part series focused on Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants and its LIS laboratory information system partnership with LigoLab. Part two of the series (linked below) features Dr. Michael Hitchcock and Dr. Elizabeth Rinehart.

Discover More: Learn How ECPC is Leveraging LigoLab’s LIS System to Streamline Pathology Lab Workflow and Expand Laboratory Operations

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Sometimes, the right connection can change everything.

In late December 2019, Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants (ECPC) was nearing a final decision on a new laboratory information system (LIS). The team had narrowed the options to two laboratory information system companies, yet uncertainty lingered.

“It felt like whatever decision we were going to make, we would be settling,” recalled Kristen Conley, ECPC’s Chief Information Officer. “Then one of our pathologists spoke with a colleague at a practice in Colorado who recommended we take a look at LigoLab, and that changed the course of our search.”

That recommendation led Conley to contact LigoLab CEO Suren Avunjian.

“It was right before the holidays, and to my surprise, Suren responded right away,” said Conley. “He and his team arranged a few demonstrations of the LIS software, and we were immediately impressed. We finalized the contract in early January and went live with our new laboratory information system in March of 2020.”

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An Intuitive LIS System Software With Fewer Clicks

For Conley and her team, the uncertainty quickly gave way to excitement once they realized they had found the right pathology lab reporting software to support their growth plans.

“As an IT professional, I found the laboratory information system intuitive, easy to understand, and simple to navigate,” said Conley. “It also offered a lot of flexibility in terms of configuration and design. Another major advantage was that LigoLab could be hosted in the cloud and integrate seamlessly with our interface engine.”

Most importantly, Conley said, the pathologists were thrilled.

“They loved that we could fully customize our report templates, embedding photomicrographs, adding graphics, using text effects based on diagnosis, and incorporating client and practice branding. When we compared LigoLab’s capabilities with the other two LIS vendors we were considering, it wasn’t even close. LigoLab stood out in every way. Based on its functionality and cost, the decision was an easy one.”

Discover More: LigoLab Delivers the LIS System Interoperability Needed to Transform Medical Laboratories into Thriving Businesses

The Circumstances That Led to LIS System Implementation

Until recently, ECPC hadn’t needed its own laboratory information system. The group provided diagnostic and pathology lab management services for several community hospitals, endoscopy centers, and physician office laboratories across Connecticut and Massachusetts, each with its own LIS medical software already in place.

That changed when ECPC expanded operations to Harrington Hospital. The move exposed the need for upgraded anatomic pathology software and stronger infrastructure to support both existing partnerships and new business opportunities.

“When I joined ECPC, we didn’t have an in-house LIS system. We didn’t even have an electronic office suite or email,” said Conley. ECPC’s pathologists, credentialed at multiple hospitals, often rotated daily between facilities.

As the group grew, that constant movement made a unified communication and document-sharing system essential. “We set out to change that,” Conley said. “We knew that to stand apart as a business, we had to modernize our laboratory information system technology.”

Discover More: Essential Anatomic Pathology LIS Software Features to Optimize Laboratory Workflow

A New LIS System and Fresh Business Opportunities

With LigoLab’s anatomic pathology LIS software at the center of the transformation, Conley and Rebecca Dilorio, then a lead PA and now ECPC’s Executive Director, began the journey toward full LIS system implementation.

“It was just the two of us against the world,” recalled Conley. “Rebecca managed the clinical laboratory workflow and staff training, while I was essentially a one-person IT department.” As a hands-on IT professional, Conley handled everything from provider management and report configuration to client setup and the development of LigoLab’s tailored LIS software solutions.

Working closely with LigoLab Implementations Director Petros Martirosian, the team charted a path for ECPC’s first go-live in early March 2020. The debut site was Harrington Hospital in Southbridge, Massachusetts.

“Once operations at Harrington were stable, we shifted to remote support because of the pandemic,” said Conley. “That’s when we began planning implementations for our next two clients.”

Those clients were Starling Physicians in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and Connecticut Gastroenterology Associates in Bloomfield, both participants in ECPC’s Physician Office Lab Management (POL) program.

“We provide turnkey solutions for practices that want to enhance turnaround times and create new revenue opportunities with their own on-site pathology lab,” said Conley. “Our goal is to keep expanding this model, and LigoLab is a key part of that strategy. With this setup, POLs benefit by keeping everything in-house, maintaining greater control over quality, turnaround time, and provider relationships.”

Discover More: Why LigoLab’s LIS System Implementation Model Outpaces Legacy Lab Vendors

A Year of Challenge and Growth

For Conley, DiIorio, and the pathologists at the core of ECPC, the year was nothing short of extraordinary. They went live with a new laboratory information system software just days before a national lockdown, then quickly adapted to a new normal while maintaining strong pathology operations through the early stages of the pandemic. Even amid the disruption, the practice continued to expand its client base.

“We’re always just a phone call or secure message away, and we make it a point to meet with our clients face-to-face,” said Conley. “Our goal is to fully support our physicians with accurate diagnoses and fast turnaround times. Every one of our pathologists is a go-getter who takes pride in being accessible, building relationships, and continually finding ways to improve.”

Today, ECPC continues to grow, driven by a shared vision to become the premier independent pathology group in the Northeast.

To learn more about ECPC, its partnerships, and its physicians, visit ecpclab.com. 

Conclusion: The Right Laboratory Information System Partner Makes All the Difference

ECPC’s story is a clear example of how the right laboratory information system can serve as both a catalyst for growth and a stabilizing force during times of change. By partnering with LigoLab, ECPC transformed its operations, streamlined workflows, and built a strong foundation for continued expansion, all while maintaining the personalized, high-quality service its clients rely on.

Whether your laboratory is seeking to modernize its infrastructure, integrate advanced reporting tools, or unify its LIS system and laboratory billing (lab revenue cycle management) operations under one comprehensive platform, LigoLab can help you achieve your goals.

Schedule a call with a LigoLab product specialist today or explore the links below to see how our all-in-one LIS & RCM Informatics Platform can empower your lab to grow smarter, faster, and stronger.

LigoLab Anatomic Pathology LIS Software Solutions

LigoLab Benefits for Pathologists

What the Best LIS Software Vendors Offer to their Laboratory Clients

LigoLab’s Approach to Implementation and Support

Six Factors to Consider Before Upgrading Lab Report Capabilities‍