Case Study
Summit Pathology - Achieving Laboratory Profitability Amidst Operational Pressures
August 18, 2025
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 are scarce, and the costs of labor and supplies continue to climb, all while the need for fast, accurate diagnostics has never been greater.
With these mounting challenges, medical labs that fail to adapt and resist modern LIS software technology put themselves at a severe disadvantage. Embracing advanced laboratory information systems is no longer optional; it’s the key to boosting productivity and reducing costs.
Industry Insights: Why the Future of the Laboratory Information System Must Be Active, Intelligent, and Integrated
Key Challenge: Implementing Best Practices and Advanced LIS System Automation to Achieve Profitability
Lab operations must evolve to navigate these complex dynamics and achieve sustainable profitability. Implementing best practices and advanced LIS system automation into clinical lab workflow is a crucial first step. This approach minimizes errors, enhances turnaround times, and significantly reduces dependency on manual labor.
Beyond automation, leveraging lab information system data analytics to gain insights into performance can drive further improvements. By optimizing clinical lab workflow and making data-driven decisions, labs can enhance operational efficiency and lay the foundation for a profitable growth strategy.
Discover More: Best LIS Software - Maximize Growth With Cutting Edge Pathology Lab Management Software
Strategic Solution: How Summit Pathology Uses Advanced LIS System Software Technology
Summit Pathology is an independent pathology laboratory with 23 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 (including flow cytometry), gastrointestinal pathology, dermatopathology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, and clinical chemistry.
Summit Pathology is CAP (College of American Pathology) accredited and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments) registered. It is known for offering world-class expertise, state-of-the-art disease detection, and exceptional customer service.
The forward-thinking pathology group is also widely known for utilizing the latest LIS pathology technology to support continued growth and profitability despite the obstacles facing the laboratory industry.
The following case study outlines how Summit Pathology has harnessed its LIS lab platform, rules-based workflows, advanced automation, and data analytics to boost efficiency and reduce costs. Those interested can also click the link below for an on-demand webinar that covers similar topics.
On-Demand Webinar: Leverage LIS System Rules, Automation, and Data Analytics to Increase Efficiency and Cut Costs
The Benefits of LigoLab’s Workflow Action Queues and Automation
The Summit Pathology - LigoLab partnership dates back to 2009, with much of that period marked by steady practice growth and agility when needed to adjust to the new realities of an ever-changing 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 that were needed for compliance or just to grow successfully.”
In particular, Handlesman credited LigoLab’s real-time workflow action queues and advanced lab workflow automation for replacing checklists, streamlining laboratory revenue cycle management (laboratory billing), cutting operational costs, and creating a custom MIPS reporting solution.
Workflow Action Queues - Explained
For those unfamiliar with LigoLab’s workflow action queues and how they work, think of them as helpful and configurable task managers that enhance a lab’s flexibility and help mitigate errors.
Every workflow action created in LigoLab requires resolution or follow-up by designated users or teams downstream. Unlike legacy monolithic LIS systems, these actions don’t block specimen progress; instead, the case continues moving through stages such as grossing and histology while the flagged issue remains visible in the workflow queue.
Discover More: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software
Therefore, if a field from the patient demographic is missing information, the case can still be processed, and the pathologist can still issue the diagnosis. However, the report will be held until the demographic workflow action issue is resolved. Once corrected, the report can be released and distributed with the updated information. This pathology lab management approach allows continuous lab operations without compromising data accuracy and 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 they're credentialed.”
Handlesman also highlighted that Summit Pathology utilizes a workflow queue for lab billing payers requiring overreads, ensuring all claims, even those with extra requirements, are submitted promptly. These examples demonstrate how replacing static checklists with dynamic workflow action queues has directly improved efficiency and accelerated turnaround times.
Discover More: A Detailed Look at How Modern Laboratory Information Systems Fully Support Quality Control
In-House Laboratory Billing Coder Collaboration
Handelsman also credited the workflow action queues and LIS system automation for Summit’s laboratory billing process, enabling the organization’s in-house coder to collaborate directly with its external lab billing service and save on full-time equivalent (FTE) employment while addressing issues and common rejections.
“This is where we can communicate with the lab’s medical coders to confirm 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.
In summary, the key highlights of Summit’s lab RCM strategy are enhanced communication and greater transparency, resulting in a more efficient and streamlined laboratory billing department.
Discover More: Maximizing Your Lab’s Profitability - The Case for In-House Lab Billing
MIPS Reporting Automation
Summit Pathology has also leveraged the latest laboratory information system technology to customize its Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting, turning what was a weeks-long tedious project into one accomplished in a single annual meeting.
Here’s an overview of 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 has been met. 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 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and CAP, and greatly improving efficiency and accuracy. It’s a “set it and forget it” automated LIS system solution that requires only occasional updates when new codes or combinations arise. Overall, it has significantly reduced manual work, maximized CMS reimbursements, and enabled 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,” continued Handlesman.
Discover More: Essential Anatomic Pathology LIS Software Features to Optimize Laboratory Workflow
The Importance of LIS System Flexibility and Customized Reporting
The importance of utilizing LIS lab data continues to grow, and Summit Pathology deserves credit for being an early adopter, realizing the direct correlation between data analytics 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.
The Summit IT department regularly utilizes metrics and data from LigoLab’s LIS system database, which enables it to pull quick reports on test results, stats, and other key information. In cases when the data needs to be broken down further, Handlesman said the department creates customizable dynamic reports featuring calculated fields that generate specific insights, such as efficiency metrics or quality control reports.
He also mentioned Summit Pathology's utilization of data analytics to generate adenoma detection rate reports for GI clients as a standout use case for lab data.
“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,” he said.
Additionally, Summit Pathology uses statistics and dynamic reports to streamline client lab billing by leveraging LigoLab’s data capabilities and custom scripting.
Here’s a brief overview of that process.
The AP lab manages all client lab billing in-house and uses data from the LigoLab platform to track every case released during their RCM cycle. Custom scripts compare new releases with previously billed cases, identifying new CPT codes and preventing duplicate charges. This approach enables them to capture addenda and all changes after the initial case release, ensuring accurate lab billing while avoiding errors and reimbursement delays.
Summit Pathology also bills technical-only and global services directly to clients, with the flexibility to accommodate various billing agreements. It accomplishes this by combining data from the LigoLab platform with custom fee schedules and scripts that have transformed what used to be a time-consuming laboratory billing process into a quick task that can be 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,” said Handlesman.
Handlesman said Summit Pathology frequently collaborates with LigoLab’s support team to build custom data fields and reports tailored to the pathology practice’s needs, ensuring every department can access the specific data required for their workflows. He said this deep integration of data analytics throughout the organization has been a powerful tool in optimizing their operations and client services.
Discover More: Understanding the Importance of Real-Time Analytics in the Modern Clinical Laboratory
Final Thoughts
Summit Pathology has successfully navigated the challenges faced by today’s pathology groups and clinical labs by embracing advanced laboratory information system functions, automation, and data analytics.
While 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.
Summit Pathology’s partnership with LigoLab demonstrates how advanced medical LIS software elevates modern pathology lab management. By leveraging workflow action queues, dynamic reporting, and custom automation, Summit has optimized key processes like lab revenue cycle management, MIPS reporting, and client billing. This innovative approach enables the lab to uphold high standards of quality and efficiency while driving sustainable growth.
Stop Settling for Outdated LIS Systems
With LigoLab, you can streamline workflows, protect revenue, and future-proof your lab. Contact us today to learn more about LigoLab and its advanced pathology lab software solutions for lab information, lab billing, and direct-to-consumer lab testing.
