Summit Pathology - Achieving Laboratory Profitability Amidst Operational Pressures

Clinical labs and pathology groups are navigating one of the most challenging periods in modern healthcare. Testing demand is surging, yet reimbursements are shrinking, qualified staff is scarce, and labor and supply costs continue to climb, all while the need for fast, accurate diagnostics has never been greater.

Medical labs that fail to adopt modern LIS software place themselves at a severe disadvantage because integrating advanced laboratory information systems into operations is essential for boosting productivity and controlling expenses.

Industry Insights: Why the Future of the Laboratory Information System Must Be Active, Intelligent, and Integrated

Key Challenge: Implementing Best Practices and Advanced Lab Information System Automation to Achieve Profitability 

Lab operations must evolve to navigate these complex dynamics and achieve sustainable profitability. Applying best practices and introducing LIS system automation into clinical lab workflow is a key initial step for decreasing errors, accelerating turnaround times, and significantly lessening reliance on manual work.

Data analytics within laboratory information systems reveal actionable performance insights. Optimizing workflows and making data-driven decisions increases operational efficiency and lays the foundation for growth.

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Strategic Solution: How Summit Pathology Uses Advanced Laboratory Information System Software Technology

About Summit Pathology

Summit Pathology is an independent pathology laboratory with 20+ board-certified pathologists who have served hospital systems and physician offices in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska for over 35 years. Based in Loveland, Colorado, the pathology laboratory delivers exceptional general surgical pathology services, complemented by specialized expertise in breast pathology, cytopathology, hematopathology, flow cytometry, gastrointestinal pathology, dermatopathology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, and clinical chemistry.

Summit Pathology is CAP-accredited and CLIA-registered, known for its world-class expertise, advanced disease detection, and exceptional customer service. The innovative group is also widely known for utilizing the latest LIS pathology technology to support growth and profitability despite challenges in the laboratory industry.

On-Demand Webinar Featuring Summit Pathology: Leverage LIS System Rules, Automation, and Data Analytics to Increase Efficiency and Cut Costs

The Benefits of LigoLab’s Workflow Action Queues and the Importance of Automated Labs 

A Partnership Built on Flexibility

The Summit Pathology and LigoLab partnership dates back to 2009, a period marked by steady growth and agility in adapting to the evolving realities of the lab industry.

"We've had a lot of changes over time to our lab workflows and adapted to them," said Corey Handlesman, Summit Pathology's Director of IT. "The flexibility of the LIS system has been a crucial part of accommodating these changes, whether they were changes needed for compliance or just to grow successfully."

Handlesman credits LigoLab's real-time workflow action queues and advanced automation with replacing checklists, streamlining laboratory revenue cycle management (lab RCM), cutting operational costs, and creating a custom MIPS reporting solution.

Workflow Action Queues Explained

The workflow action queues are configurable task managers that make LigoLab’s LIS system uniquely flexible. These queues keep flagged issues visible while cases progress, enabling work to continue smoothly. In contrast to legacy laboratory information systems, this approach reduces workflow bottlenecks by enabling staff to identify and address issues more efficiently, improving productivity while lowering the risk of errors. 

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For example, if a patient demographic field is missing information, the team can still process the case, and the pathologist can still issue a diagnosis. Still, the lab information system will hold the report until staff resolve the demographic workflow action. After a staff member corrects the information, the LIS system releases the updated report. This innovative laboratory workflow management approach enables continuous lab operations without compromising data accuracy or quality control.

"We rely heavily on building and testing out workflow action queues that allow us to funnel every case where it needs to be and to make sure every action that has to happen does happen before the case is released," said Handlesman. "This is crucial for quality control, especially when we have new employees or bring on new pathologists before the organization credentials them."

Handlesman also noted that Summit Pathology routinely leverages a workflow queue for laboratory billing payers that require overreads, helping ensure claims are submitted promptly even when additional review steps are necessary. These examples demonstrate how replacing static checklists with dynamic workflow action queues has directly improved efficiency and accelerated turnaround times.

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In-House Laboratory Billing Coder Collaboration

Handlesman also credited workflow action queues and LIS system automation for helping Summit’s in-house coder collaborate instantly with its external lab billing service, enabling quick issue resolution, more accurate claims, and savings in staffing resources.

"This is where we can communicate with the lab's medical coders to confirm that everything is coded appropriately. We have a system in place so no test goes to our lab revenue cycle management company before it receives diagnosis coding," he said.

The key highlights of Summit's laboratory billing strategy are enhanced communication and greater transparency, resulting in a more efficient and streamlined department.

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MIPS Reporting Automation

From Weeks to a Single Annual Meeting

Summit Pathology has also leveraged the latest laboratory information system technology to customize its Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting, transforming what was once a weeks-long manual project into a single annual meeting.

How It Works

The laboratory information system streamlines MIPS reporting by automating workflow actions through database logic that recognizes MIPS requirements. It utilizes two primary action queues, one for first-time case releases and another for re-releases, addenda, or send-out tests. Coders review cases, apply diagnosis codes, and verify code combinations to ensure compliance. When specific codes are detected, anatomic pathology LIS automation routes the case through predefined nodes, preventing the use of non-approved MIPS codes.

Handlesman credited this advanced LIS software automation with replacing a manual process, streamlining MIPS reporting to CMS and CAP, and greatly improving efficiency and accuracy. It is a set-it-and-forget-it automated LIS lab solution that requires only occasional updates when the team introduces new codes or combinations, significantly reducing manual work, maximizing CMS reimbursements, and enabling Summit Pathology to achieve top MIPS reporting scores.

"We rely on this functionality day in and day out for multiple processes. We really couldn't function without it," noted Handlesman.

Discover More: Essential Anatomic Pathology LIS Software Features to Optimize Laboratory Workflow

The Importance of LIS System Flexibility and Customized Reporting 

A Data-Driven Culture

Summit Pathology deserves credit for being an early adopter of LIS lab data analytics, recognizing the direct correlation between data-driven insights and enhanced decision-making, operational efficiency, and quality control.

"We're a data-heavy lab and rely on metrics for decision-making that help us determine how we manage compliance reporting, lab revenue cycle management, and grow the business," said Handlesman.

Dynamic Reports and Custom Analytics

The Summit IT department regularly uses metrics and data from LigoLab's LIS software database to generate quick reports on test results, statistics, and other key information. When the team needs to break down data further, the department creates customizable dynamic reports with calculated fields that generate specific insights, such as efficiency metrics or quality control reports.

One standout example is Summit Pathology's use of data analytics to generate adenoma detection rate reports for GI clients.

"By combining data from the LigoLab platform with additional data provided by our clients, we can accurately calculate and report these rates, aiding clients in their CMS reporting and reimbursements," said Handlesman.

Streamlined Client Lab Billing Through Custom Scripting

Summit Pathology also uses statistics and dynamic reports to streamline client lab billing, leveraging LigoLab's data capabilities and custom scripting. The AP lab manages all client lab billing in-house and uses data from the LigoLab platform to track every case released during the RCM cycle. Custom scripts compare new releases with previously billed cases, identifying new CPT codes and preventing duplicate charges. This approach captures addenda and all changes after initial case release, ensuring accurate lab billing that avoids errors and reimbursement delays.

Summit Pathology bills technical-only and global services directly to clients, accommodating various laboratory billing agreements by combining LigoLab platform data with custom fee schedules and scripts that have transformed a previously time-consuming lab RCM process into a task completed within minutes.

"This has greatly improved efficiency, accuracy, and flexibility in managing our client lab billing, making it a seamless part of our daily operations managed internally rather than having to be outsourced," explained Handlesman, who also noted that Summit Pathology frequently collaborates with LigoLab's support team to build custom data fields and reports tailored to the practice's specific needs, ensuring every department can access the data required for their workflows.

Discover More: Understanding the Importance of Real-Time Analytics in the Modern Clinical Laboratory

Final Thoughts 

Summit Pathology has successfully navigated the challenges facing today's pathology groups and clinical labs by embracing advanced laboratory information system functions, automation, and data analytics.

Operating in an environment where diagnostic demand is high, reimbursement is complex, and qualified labor is scarce, Summit Pathology has leveraged LigoLab's modern laboratory information system software to streamline operations, reduce manual work, and enhance accuracy. 

The Summit-LigoLab partnership demonstrates how advanced medical LIS software elevates modern clinical and pathology lab management, with workflow action queues, dynamic reporting, and custom automation that optimize key processes, from lab revenue cycle management and MIPS reporting to client billing. This innovative approach enables the thriving lab business to uphold high standards of quality and efficiency while driving sustainable growth.

Stop Settling for Outdated Laboratory Information Systems

With the best LIS software, you can streamline workflows, protect revenue, and future-proof your lab. Contact LigoLab today to learn more about its advanced medical laboratory solutions and competitive tiered pricing.

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Frequently Asked Questions About LIS System Automation and Pathology Lab Profitability

What are LigoLab's workflow action queues, and how do they improve lab operations?

Workflow action queues are configurable task managers within LigoLab's comprehensive LIS medical platform that flag issues requiring resolution while enabling case processing to continue uninterrupted. Unlike legacy LIS systems that block specimen progress, LigoLab's queues keep cases moving through grossing and histology while flagged issues, such as missing patient demographics, remain visible and trackable. The LIS system holds reports until staff resolve the issue, ensuring data accuracy without slowing operations.

How does Summit Pathology use workflow action queues to improve quality control?

Summit Pathology utilizes workflow action queues to ensure that staff complete every required action before a case is released, which is particularly important for onboarding new employees or recently credentialed pathologists. They also use a dedicated queue for lab billing payers who require overreads, ensuring all claims are submitted promptly and completely, regardless of additional requirements.

How did LigoLab's automation transform Summit Pathology's MIPS reporting process?

LigoLab's database logic automates MIPS workflow actions, routing cases through predefined nodes based on detected diagnosis codes and preventing the use of non-approved MIPS codes. What previously required weeks of manual work was compressed into a single annual meeting, significantly reducing administrative burden, improving CMS reimbursements, and enabling Summit Pathology to achieve top MIPS reporting scores.

How does Summit Pathology use LigoLab's data analytics for client billing?

Summit Pathology uses custom scripts that compare newly released cases against previously billed ones, identifying new CPT codes, preventing duplicate charges, and capturing addenda. Combined with custom fee schedules, this has transformed a time-consuming, manual billing process into one completed within minutes, entirely managed in-house without outsourcing.

What role does data analytics play in Summit Pathology's operations?

Data analytics is central to Summit Pathology's decision-making across compliance reporting, lab revenue cycle management, and business growth. The lab uses LigoLab's dynamic reporting tools to generate efficiency metrics, quality control reports, and client-specific analytics, such as adenoma detection rate reports for GI clients, that support both internal operations and client CMS reporting.

How does LigoLab's platform support in-house laboratory billing collaboration?

LigoLab's workflow action queues and automation enable Summit's in-house medical coders to communicate directly with the external lab billing service, ensuring no test is submitted before it has received proper diagnosis coding. This collaboration has improved communication, increased transparency, and reduced full-time equivalent costs while maintaining billing accuracy.

What are the broader business benefits of adopting an advanced LIS system with automation?

Labs that embrace advanced LIS system automation, like Summit Pathology, report reduced dependence on manual labor, lower operational costs, faster turnaround times, improved quality control, higher clean-claim rates, and the ability to scale operations without proportional increases in headcount. These gains translate directly into sustainable profitability even in an environment of declining reimbursements and staffing shortages.