Say Goodbye to Laboratory Cheat Sheets With Tags and Workflow Actions

At LigoLab, we're committed to providing advanced laboratory information system software solutions that streamline anatomic pathology LIS and clinical lab workflow, making it easier to work smarter and grow your lab business.

Two great examples of LigoLab’s commitment to continuous improvement are tags and workflow actions. Before exploring how these powerful tools help laboratories streamline operations, let’s first look at the challenges they’re designed to address. 

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Replace Manual Workarounds with Intelligent, Digital Laboratory Workflow Management

Are your laboratory workstations covered with paper notes, cheat sheets, or disconnected files used to track issues and exceptions? 

Do these makeshift tools serve as reminders for client-specific preferences or special steps outside standard laboratory workflows? 

Are multi-colored specimen labels being utilized to identify specific attributes or processing requirements? 

If yes, unfortunately, you’re not alone. Many laboratories continue to rely on these outdated, fragile methods, which introduce risk, create inconsistencies, and make scaling difficult.

LigoLab, an enterprise-grade LIS company, offers a far more effective alternative. Its modern medical laboratory information system software replaces physical notes and ad hoc flags with intelligent, configurable digital tools that capture customer preferences and special circumstances directly within the workflow, without clutter, confusion, or compromise.

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Understanding Tags, Workflow Actions, and Data Entities in LigoLab’s All-in-One Platform

Let's break down what tags, workflow actions, and data field entities mean within LigoLab's all-in-one Medical LIS & Lab Billing Informatics Platform, and how these configurable elements work together to simplify daily operations, improve communication, and reduce friction across laboratory workflows.

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Defining Data Field Entities, Tags, and Workflow Actions in LigoLab

In LigoLab terminology, data field entities (DFEs) within the laboratory information system are flexible representations of real-world objects that can be (dynamically) created and modified as users work within the platform. Common examples include people, clinics, customers, patients, and reports.

Tags and workflow actions build on these DFEs by adding meaningful context that improves visibility, accountability, and follow-up. Together, they turn static laboratory data into actionable intelligence, helping users identify important information, trigger appropriate actions, and ensure issues are addressed efficiently.

LIS System Tags

LIS system tags are lightweight classifications that support quick decision-making and grouping within laboratory workflows. Tags are stateless and can be added or removed as needed. They provide a simple way to flag client-specific preferences or special considerations and add meaningful LIS lab attributes without requiring complex rules or configuration. 

"From a programmatic and technical standpoint, LIS system tags give you more flexibility," said Petros Martirosian, LigoLab Implementations Director.

According to Martirosian, tags come with two distinct advantages. They completely replace physical notes and flags and are also very powerful, as they can be used as programming assets throughout LigoLab’s LIS system module.

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LIS System Workflow Actions

‍Lab information system workflow actions are heavier than tags and carry more information and properties. Workflow actions are stateful and persistent in the database, have a history, and are tracked throughout via the audit trail. They drive a manual lab workflow for desired actions and respond to or fulfill those actions (examples include requested, resolved, or deleted).

Workflow actions are located in the workflow action queue of the LIS system module and can be deployed as needed.

"Ninety percent of the time workflow actions are used because there is a manual step involved," continued Martirosian. "So LigoLab provides a configurable solution rather than any required development, which enables users to create workflow actions that save on cost and time."

Tags and workflow actions serve as LigoLab's Swiss Army tools because they are applicable across many scenarios and promote end-to-end efficiency while meeting the needs of the most demanding LIS system customers.

"Fundamentally, all labs are the same, but in reality, there are so many different variants within each lab, and that's where these tags and workflow actions come in handy," concluded Martirosian. "They give users the power to do more while working less and without added cost."

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LigoLab: Laboratory Information System Vendors Known for Comprehensive LIS Software Solutions 

The LigoLab Informatics Platform is purpose-built to remove the operational, financial, and scalability challenges that limit today's clinical laboratories and pathology groups. As a comprehensive, all-in-one LIS lab solution, the platform brings anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, laboratory billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing workflows into a fully integrated lab database software environment, replacing the data silos, manual workarounds, and inefficiencies typical of legacy LIS systems.

At the core of LigoLab's value is its ability to directly address real customer pain points. 

Fragmented laboratory software systems are replaced with shared workflows and a single source of truth. Manual handoffs give way to automation driven by real-world lab logic. 

Visibility gaps close with real-time dashboards, queues, and alerts that help teams identify bottlenecks before they impact turnaround times or revenue. Built-in compliance, auditability, and traceability further reduce risk while simplifying inspection readiness.

Just as important, LigoLab is engineered for growth. The platform's highly configurable architecture allows labs to adapt workflows, add services, and support new business models without disruptive system changes or costly add-ons. 

Automation scales with volume, enabling customers to increase throughput and complexity without proportional staffing increases. An integrated lab billing/lab revenue cycle management module ensures that financial performance keeps pace with operational expansion.

As customers grow and evolve, LigoLab grows with them, continuously delivering flexibility, performance, and innovation. The result is not just a modern LIS software application, but a future-ready informatics platform that empowers laboratories to operate smarter today while confidently scaling their businesses for tomorrow.

Ready to Move Beyond Legacy LIS Limitations?

Discover how the LigoLab Informatics Platform can streamline operations, improve financial performance, and scale with your laboratory’s growth. Contact a LigoLab product specialist today to schedule a personalized demonstration and see how a truly integrated LIS system can transform your lab.

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Frequently Asked Questions About LigoLab’s LIS System Tags and Workflow Actions

What is a data field entity (DFE) in LigoLab's platform?

A data field entity is a flexible, abstract representation of a real-world object within the LIS system software, such as a person, clinic, customer, patient, or report, that can be created and modified dynamically as users work in the platform.

What are LIS system tags used for?

Tags are lightweight, stateless classifications that support decision-making and grouping. They alert users to client-specific considerations and provide a simple way to add meaningful attributes without creating rules or additional configurations, effectively replacing physical notes, flags, and other manual reminders. 

What are workflow actions, and how are they different from tags?

Workflow actions are heavier and more persistent than tags. They are stateful, tracked through an audit trail, and drive manual workflow steps that require a specific response, such as being requested, resolved, or deleted, rather than being added or removed.

When are workflow actions typically used?

According to LigoLab's Implementation Director, workflow actions are used about 90 percent of the time when a manual step is involved in the lab workflow, providing a configurable solution instead of requiring custom development.

How do tags and workflow actions help labs replace manual tracking methods?

They eliminate the need for paper notes, cheat sheets, disconnected spreadsheets, and color-coded specimen labels by capturing client preferences and special circumstances directly within the digital workflow.

Do tags and workflow actions require custom development to set up?

No. Both are directly configurable within the LigoLab platform, empowering users to create and modify them without writing rules or requiring LIS software development, saving time and costs. 

How do these tools fit into LigoLab's broader platform?

Tags and workflow actions are part of LigoLab's all-in-one Medical LIS & Lab Billing Informatics Platform, which unifies anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, laboratory billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing into a single system, replacing the data silos and manual workarounds common in legacy LIS systems.‍