Blog
LigoLab Glossary of Terms
November 20, 2023
A laboratory information system (LIS) is a software system that helps to manage many aspects of a molecular, clinical, or anatomic pathology laboratory, including inputting, processing, and storing the information and data of a lab. Systems like LigoLab LIS act as a data warehouse for all pathology and reference lab cases and include reporting, image acquisition, direct digital interface with microscopes, label printing, electronic sign-out, quality control, integration with prior test results, auto reflexing, and more.
A Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is similar to a LIS in that it enables labs to effectively manage the flow of samples and associated data to improve lab efficiency. A LIMS system is a type of software designed to improve lab productivity and efficiency by keeping track of data associated with samples, experiments, laboratory workflows, and instruments. Unlike LIS systems, LIMS systems are most often associated with non-clinical laboratory settings, such as a research environment.
Specimen or Sample Tracking refers to the system by which a patient's sample is labeled and moved through the testing process before the correct diagnosis result is communicated to them by a physician. The LigoLab LIS & RCM Laboratory Operating Platform provides error-free specimen tracking with full traceability of each specimen and awareness of the next step in the workflow.
What is a reference laboratory?
Reference labs are usually private, commercial facilities that do high-volume routine and specialty testing. Most of the tests performed are referred from physician’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities like nursing homes. While most hospitals try to do as many tests as possible in-house, reference labs are used for specialized tests that are ordered only occasionally or that require specialized equipment.
What is a molecular laboratory?
Molecular diagnostic testing combines laboratory testing with the precision of molecular biology and has revolutionized the way clinical and public health laboratories investigate the human, viral, and microbial genomes, their genes, and the products they encode.
What is a disruptive technology in healthcare?
A new product, service, or business model is considered disruptive when it helps create a new market. Eventually, disruptive technologies displace previous technologies. A great example of this is TestDirectly, an innovative direct-to-consumer web portal developed by LigoLab for laboratory testing. The portal replaces paper forms and streamlines testing workflows (collection, processing, and reporting). It removes bottlenecks and improves both patient access to test results and laboratory turnaround times.
What is point-of-care?
Point-of-care services refer to medical care provided at or near the location of the patient.
What is a POCT test?
Point-of-care testing (POC testing) is medical testing done at or near the point of care. POC refers to the location of the patient. POC testing makes it far easier for results to be obtained quickly and reliably. With these results available, medical staff can more easily make informed decisions about a patient’s treatment and care.
What is rapid point-of-care testing?
Rapid point-of-care tests provide results within minutes (depending on the test) and are used to detect current or past SARS-CoV-2 infections in various settings, such as physician offices, urgent care facilities, remote testing locations, and more.
Revenue integrity
Revenue integrity (RI) means using ethical business practices and policies to achieve three critical organizational imperatives: operational efficiency, compliance, and optimal earned reimbursement/payment.
What is revenue integrity in healthcare?
Revenue integrity (RI) means using ethical business practices and policies to achieve three critical organizational imperatives: operational efficiency, compliance, and optimal earned reimbursement/payment. In healthcare, the goal of RI is to prevent recurrence of issues that can cause revenue leakage and/or compliance risks through effective, efficient, replicable processes and internal controls across the continuum of patient care, supported by the appropriate documentation and the application of sound financial practices that are able to withstand audits at any point in time.
What is structured data in healthcare?
Structured data is data organized into specific fields as part of a schema, with each field having a defined purpose. Structured data can be found in any healthcare database, and may include details like customer names and contact information, lab values, patient demographic data, and financial information.
What is practice management software?
Practice management software (PM software) is designed to help medical offices of any size run more efficiently. Typically, small and medium-sized practices use practice management software to manage daily operations like financial and administrative functions. Some offices use PM software to connect with electronic medical records.
What is the role of EHRs in supporting population health?
Electronic health records (EHRs) contribute to population health by providing clinically based measurements of the levels and distributions of diseases, functional status, and well-being, and through providing data for developing and maintaining population health records. By efficiently collecting data in a form that can be shared across multiple health care organizations and leveraged for quality improvement and prevention activities, EHRs improve public health reporting and surveillance.
What is PAMA regulation?
The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA) brought a wide variety of changes to Medicare, including the method by which Medicare calculates the rates it pays under the Clinical Lab Fee Schedule (CLFS). It requires Medicare to pay according to the weighted median rate of payments made by private insurers for the same lab test. This means Medicare must collect data from laboratory providers every three years in order to calculate the appropriate rate of payment.
What is COBA in healthcare?
The Coordination of Benefits Agreement (COBA) program establishes a uniform national contract between CMS, benefit programs, and other health insurers. COBA is a standard processing methodology used by the national Medicare community. COBA allows greater efficiency and simplification via consolidation of the claims crossover process.
