Blog
Medical LIS Systems and LIS in Healthcare
May 13, 2025
The healthcare industry engages with a vast amount of patient data and managing this data effectively is crucial in developing clinical insights and improving patient outcomes.
Pathology lab software known as laboratory information systems (LIS systems) is key in this regard as they are designed to process and manage daily activities (the lab workflow) of anatomic pathology groups and clinical laboratories, and the organization and storage of important patient and specimen data.
What is LIS in Healthcare?
Great question.
You might say that a modern laboratory information system/LIS software is the equivalent of healthcare’s nervous system. It’s a pathology lab management system solution that efficiently supports all laboratory workflow management such as facilitating orders from various departments, sample tracking and diagnostic processing, and the generation of lab reports. The best LIS systems also support laboratory revenue cycle management (lab RCM; also known as laboratory billing).
Laboratory information systems are a vital part of modern healthcare. They ensure fast turnaround times and eliminate human errors (for example, as a result of mislabeled samples), thus enabling efficient clinical laboratory workflow management and greater patient safety.
Similarly, electronic health record (EHR) systems are essential for hospitals and healthcare providers because when integrated with LIS lab systems, they make it easier and faster for providers to track patient clinical data, lab work, and other information across multiple locations.
Inside Pathology LIS Systems
Think of pathology LIS systems/medical LIS as automated lab data management entities with pathology reporting software. They process laboratory test results and produce lab reports. Physicians review the results and interpret the tests to obtain definitive diagnoses and plan courses of treatment. LIS lab personnel track orders, produce reports with test results, access historical results for patients, and generate statistical reports.
LIS systems have become the cornerstone of every modern lab. An effective LIS software solution reduces diagnostic errors and enhances decision-making processes due to fast turnaround times, automation of repetitive tasks, and elimination of paper-based processes. All are keys to helping physicians devise mistake-free treatment measures without delays.
A modern medical laboratory information system - unlike legacy LIS pathology platforms with limited functionality - helps mitigate compliance risk by accurately capturing, storing, and organizing complete test results within a detailed and auditable record.
White Paper: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software
Laboratory information systems may also work in tandem with hospital information systems (HIS), lan management software programs used by lab technicians, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in hospitals.
Learn More: See How LigoLab’s Laboratory Informatics Platform Rates in the CAP Today LIS System Product Guide
LIS in Healthcare: What are the Benefits?
LIS system software has been at the forefront of the technological revolution for medical laboratories. The industry has come a long way since the days of mostly manual laboratory information system functions, meaning legacy LIS systems now pale in functionality and interoperability when compared with modern LIS software solutions.
Lab technicians rely on LIS systems to coordinate inpatient and outpatient medical testing. These tests include but are not limited to immunology, chemistry, microbiology, and hematology. Whenever a patient visits a healthcare facility, a well-designed lab information system securely tracks, manages, and stores their data from order entry, to sample processing, to testing and lab reporting.
Top labs use the best LIS software in healthcare to do the following:
- Automate laboratory workflow management
- Integrate data from other laboratory software systems
- Support laboratory equipment and supplies management
- Create customized reports by analyzing generated data
- Facilitate on-demand access to these reports for physicians
- Allow easier access to patient data
- Ensure reliable sample tracking and lab results
- Improve efficiency for laboratory billing processes
- Provide better communication between hospitals and laboratories
Learn More: The Best Laboratory Information Systems: LIS Software Solutions for Clinical and Pathology Labs
How to Use Laboratory Information Systems in Medical Settings
LIS Laboratory information system software helps lab operators collect and organize data. The medical LIS collects data from other systems such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines, CT scans, and laboratory instruments/analyzers.
Hospitals and clinics appreciate the role of the LIS in healthcare because it efficiently manages the testing process while ensuring that every step complies with regulatory requirements.
The LIS system ensures data goes directly to the patient information database. Sometimes the information is held on an onsite server, and advanced LIS systems can also facilitate stored Cloud data. Either way, users can extract this information from the patient information database and display it in charts or as individual results.
Clinical Information applications access data from the patient information database and the LIS system presents this information to users as individual results or charts.
Industry Insights: Examining the Pros and Cons of Cloud-Based LIS System Solutions
Independent Laboratories and LIS in Healthcare
If you operate an independent laboratory with high testing volumes, upgrading to advanced laboratory information system LIS software is a smart move. It enhances workflow speed and efficiency, impresses both patients and customers with reliable service, and gives your team quick access to historical patient data for smoother, more informed testing and diagnostics.
In anatomic pathology and clinical laboratories, the medical LIS helps information flow as required while generating results that aid in patient care. The process includes:
- The pre-analytical phase
- The analytical phase
- The post-analytical phase
Pre-Analytical Phase
The LIS system facilitates test ordering, specimen collection, and processing in this phase.
Analytical Phase
This stage involves routing specimens to the appropriate analyzers for data processing and results generation, facilitated by the LIS system.
Post-Analytical Phase
This phase involves test result transmission, generation of reports, critical value identification, and documentation.
Learn More: Transforming Patient Care - The Power of Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) in Healthcare
LigoLab's All-in-One Laboratory Information System Software Solution
The healthcare sector is growing as all parties focus on the number one goal, providing better services to their patients. As a result, hospitals and clinics are demanding more sophisticated tools to help them manage their processes. That's where an advanced laboratory information system comes in. The LIS system helps labs support these hospitals and clinics by increasing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving patient care.
We understand medical laboratories are an essential part of the healthcare industry. For this reason, laboratory directors and managers need to be able to use the best LIS system software technology to analyze samples and to provide critical information to doctors and other medical professionals.
Managing all this information requires a complete understanding of laboratory workflow management and the operational side of the organization. At LigoLab, we proudly offer extensive lab information system training for technicians, managers, and other personnel so they can effectively use our advanced medical LIS platform.
Learn More: What You Need to Know Before Contracting with a Laboratory Information System (LIS) Company
Key Takeaways
LIS systems are essential laboratory software systems that keep the daily work of a laboratory running with speed and efficiency and with a significantly reduced risk of human error. Modern medical labs and healthcare centers have embraced the latest LIS software technology, and we are here to help them successfully transition into a comprehensive, highly configurable, and highly integrated LIS system platform.
Learn More: How to Set Up a Committee to Select a Laboratory Information System
LigoLab's all-in-one LIS lab solution offers customizable modules for anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, lab revenue cycle management, and direct-to-consumer lab testing (TestDirectly) workflows.
To learn more about LigoLab’s pathology software platform and how it can help your lab achieve its operational and financial goals, we encourage you to contact a product specialist and schedule a personalized LIS system demonstration.
Connect Me with a LigoLab Product Specialist!
