LIS Medical and Healthcare

The healthcare industry engages with a vast amount of patient data. Being able to manage and use this data effectively is crucially important in developing clinical insights and improving patient outcomes.

A laboratory information system (LIS) is a laboratory software system that is designed to process and manage daily activities of anatomic pathology groups and clinical laboratories, in particular, the organization and storage of important medical data.

What is LIS in Healthcare?

Getting specific, a LIS system supports the processing and retrieving of patient information, and the storing of data. The LIS system in lab settings also helps in managing laboratory data such as patient reports, tests, and facilitating orders from various departments.

Laboratory information systems are a vital part of modern healthcare. They ensure fast turnaround times and the elimination of human error (for example, as a result of mislabeled samples), thus enabling an efficient and productive lab workflow and a greater degree of patient safety. 

Similarly, electronic medical records (EMR) are a must for hospitals and healthcare providers, and when integrated with LIS systems, makes it easier and faster for providers to track patient clinical data, lab work, and other information across multiple locations.

Inside a Medical Laboratory Information System

Think of a medical LIS as an automated lab data management system that processes laboratory test results and produces pathology lab reports for use with patient care. The physician reviews the results and interprets the tests to obtain a definitive diagnosis and plan a course of treatment. Lab personnel track orders, produce requested lab reports, access historical results for patients, and generate statistical reports.

Medical lab information systems have become the cornerstone for every modern lab. An effective LIS 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 (there are significant differences between what a legacy LIS from years ago can do vs. a modern one with advanced capabilities) can also help mitigate compliance risk by collecting and storing accurate, precise, and complete results as part of a comprehensive audit trail. 

The medical laboratory information system may also work in conjunction with a hospital information system (HIS), which is a software program used by lab technicians, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals in hospitals.

LIS in Healthcare: What are the Benefits?

LIS software has been at the forefront of the technological revolution for laboratories.  The industry has come a long way since the days of manual laboratory software systems. Even today’s legacy LIS software pales in terms of functionality and interoperability when compared with modern LIS (also sometimes referred to as pathology reporting software). 

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 LIS securely tracks, manages, and stores their data from order entry, to sample processing, to test resulting and lab reporting. 

Top labs use LIS software in healthcare to do the following:

• automate the workflow in laboratories
• integrate data from other clinical systems
• support laboratory equipment and supplies management
• create reports by analyzing data generated
• facilitate on-demand access to these reports from physicians
• allow easier access to patient data
• ensure reliable specimen tracking and lab results
• improve efficiency for billing processes
• provide better communication between hospitals and laboratories

How to Use Laboratory Information Systems in Medical Settings

The LIS plays an essential role as it helps collect and organize data relating to patients. This lab management software collects data from different medical equipment such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)  machines, CT scans, and other laboratory instruments and analyzers.

Hospitals, clinics, and research institutions 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 ensures data goes directly to the patient information database. Sometimes the information is held in the terminal server. Users can extract this information from the patient information database and display them in charts or as individual results.

Clinical Information applications access data from the Patient Information Database in the LIS and present this information to users as individual results or as charts.

Independent laboratories and LIS in Healthcare

If you run an independent laboratory and have any significant testing volume, you should consider using lab information system software. Your customers and your patients will appreciate how effective your lab is and the speed and efficiency of your clinical workflows. You will have the patients' data (history) if they used your services in the past, and you will find it easier to run tests.

In anatomic pathology and clinical laboratories, the laboratory information system helps information to flow as required while generating results. The process includes:

• Pre-analytical phase
• Analytical phase
• Post-analytical phase

Pre-analytical Phase

In the pre-analytical phase, the LIS facilitates test ordering, specimen collection, and processing. 

Analytical Phase 

This stage involves routing of specimens to the appropriate analyzers for data processing and the generation of results, facilitated by the LIS system.

Post-analytical Phase

The post-analytic phase involves result transmission, generation of reports, critical value identification, and documentation.

LigoLab's Laboratory Information System Solution

The healthcare sector is growing rapidly as countries around the world focus on providing better services to their citizens. As a result, hospitals and clinics are demanding more sophisticated tools to better manage their processes. That's where a 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 managers need to be able to use advanced technology to analyze samples and to provide critical information to doctors and other medical professionals.

To manage all this information requires a complete understanding of the processes that take place within a laboratory as well as the skills needed to perform them. At LigoLab, we are proud to offer extensive lab information system training for lab technicians, managers, and other medical personnel so they can effectively use our LIS software.

Key Takeaway

A laboratory information system is an essential laboratory software system that keeps 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 LIS software technology, and we are here to help them successfully transition into a comprehensive, highly configurable, and highly integrated LIS system.

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