Say Goodbye to Laboratory Cheat Sheets With Tags and Workflow Actions

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

Two great examples of this commitment to our loyal lab customers are tags and workflow actions. In a moment, we’ll take a closer look at each entity, but first, let’s examine what might still be happening in your lab environment. 

Replace Manual Workarounds with Intelligent, Digital Laboratory Workflow Management

Are your laboratory workstations covered with Post-it notes, cheat sheets, or disconnected Excel files used to track issues and exceptions? Do these makeshift tools act as reminders for client-specific preferences or special steps that fall outside standard laboratory workflow management? Are different colored specimen labels being used to signal attributes or processing requirements?

Unfortunately, many laboratories continue to rely on these outdated and fragile methods. These manual workarounds introduce risk, create inconsistency, and make it difficult to scale.

LigoLab, an enterprise-grade LIS company, offers a far more effective alternative. Its modern medical laboratory information system 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 the LigoLab Informatics Platform

Let’s break down what tags, workflow actions, and data field entities mean within LigoLab’s all-in-one Medical LIS & Lab RCM 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, abstract representations of real-world objects that can be created and modified dynamically as users work in the platform. Common examples of DFEs include people, clinics, customers, patients, and reports.

At a practical level, tags and workflow actions extend the power of these DFEs by attaching additional context that drives visibility, accountability, and follow-up. They capture meaningful information that triggers action and ensures issues are resolved, transforming static data into active, workflow-enabling intelligence.

LIS System Tags

‍LIS system tags are lightweight classifications used for decision-making or grouping. Tags are stateless in that they can only be added and removed, and are transient inside the database. Tags alert users about special considerations that should be paid to certain clients. They are a quick and easy way to add lab information system attributes without writing a rule 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 post-its and flags, and are also very powerful in that they can be utilized as programming assets throughout the LIS system.

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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 a response or fulfillment of those desired actions (requested, resolved, or deleted are examples of this). 

Workflow actions are located in the workflow action queue of LigoLab’s 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 allows 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 in many different scenarios and promote end-to-end efficiency while still 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 together anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, laboratory billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing workflows within a single, fully integrated system, replacing the data silos, manual workarounds, and inefficiencies typical of legacy lab information system environments.

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 are closed 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 labs to increase throughput and complexity without proportional increases in staffing. An integrated lab revenue cycle management module ensures that financial performance keeps pace with operational expansion.

As laboratory partners grow and evolve, LigoLab grows with them, continuously delivering flexibility, performance, and innovation. The result is not just a modern LIS software, 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.

Act Now: Contact a LigoLab Product Specialist!‍