Questions All Pathology Labs Should Ask When Evaluating LIS Software and Support

Is your LIS laboratory information system (also known as pathology lab software) holding your clinical laboratory or pathology practice business back, preventing the efficiency and productivity you desire? 

Stuck with an inflexible laboratory information system software that lacks features and functionality, making it harder and harder to remain current and relevant in a dynamic and ever-changing industry?

Have you realized that a laboratory workflow management upgrade in the form of new LIS software is needed to protect the business from external threats, but you’re still fearful of the disruption and pain normally associated with laboratory information system software implementations?

Are you tired of your relationship with your current LIS software vendors?  Are these lab vendors only interested in charging additional fees for the smallest changes to a lab report or laboratory workflow management configuration?

Well, you’re not alone. These are all common feelings that lab directors and managers experience when trying to get by with legacy LIS systems (LIS meaning in medical lab terms) that are rigid, dated, and ultimately costing them in terms of money and opportunity.

Now, let me cheer you up a bit. You, and other lab leaders like you, no longer need to settle for second best. That’s because highly adaptable and configurable LIS systems like the LigoLab LIS & RCM Laboratory Informatics Platform are changing how labs do business. 

I invite you to continue reading as we touch upon the frequently asked questions received by our LIS company as potential new clients learn more about our pathology lab software through interactive software demonstrations, and LigoLab resources like webinars, case studies, white papers, and surveys.

What the Best LIS Software Vendors Offer to Their Customers

At LigoLab, we strive to provide unmatched pathology lab software customer service. It’s built into our company’s DNA. We’re interested in long-term and mutually profitable relationships with our clients, and this is an outlier that sets us apart from other LIS software vendors. 

Our team works tirelessly to unlock the full potential of your laboratory because we view every interaction with a partner as an investment into the laboratory and our LIS company. This is more than a marketing statement, it’s a financial reality as we share the risk of a successful LIS system implementation with your medical laboratory and are vested in your laboratory’s continual growth through an aligned risk-reward tiered pricing model. Put simply, this pricing for our LIS model is designed to help your laboratory efficiently scale and we’re very motivated for that to happen because we have skin in the game. 

If upgrading your medical LIS is a priority, you’re in luck and your timing is superb. I invite you to compare the information about our LIS system against what you’ve heard and seen from the other LIS software vendors to help you make the right choice and choose the best LIS for your lab.

Comparing the Services of LIS Software Vendors

Let’s start with the services offered by LIS software vendors. As you evaluate competing LIS systems and their approaches to LIS system implementations, make sure the lab vendors you’re considering can guide you and your staff from one stage to another with an effective and clearly stated plan for implementation, go-live, and beyond. This is an important area to explore because, without committed LIS company support you’ll fail to reach your laboratory goals of efficient operations and increased profitability. I can assure you that with the LigoLab platform, the answer to all the questions listed below is a resounding “yes.” 

LIS Software Vendors Service FAQs

• Does the LIS company offer an online or on-site LIS system demonstration?

• Does the LIS company provide a detailed project plan, including the project team, timelines, deliverables, and risk and issue management procedures?

• Does the vendor explain their overall project approach, deliverables, time constraints, and any other criteria for the project?

• Does the LIS lab vendor provide reliable cost estimates and pricing schedules, including all products and services in the scope of work?

• Does the LIS lab vendor detail the total time and staff resources the lab will have to provide for the LIS system implementation process?

• Can the LIS lab vendor explain the maintenance and support offered during and after implementation, including times and methods of availability, issue escalation, and management? 

For a LigoLab LIS system implementation, the client would be assigned a dedicated LigoLab Implementation Specialist to guide them through every step. This individual would be available during normal business hours via phone and email, and outside of normal business hours when necessary. This specialist would be the main contact for the client during implementation and he or she would escalate issues to management as they arise. 

After a successful implementation, the client would continue to meet with the implementation specialist regularly to ensure all significant issues are resolved promptly. After this, the client would be transferred from the LigoLab implementation team into LigoLab support. The support team would then be available 24/7 including off hours to provide any needed assistance via email and phone. 

For a closer look at LigoLab’s approach to implementation and support, click here. 

• Does the LIS lab vendor provide a support schedule for the implementation process, including optional support levels, their function, and availability?

• Does the LIS company provide support during the "go-live" period between LIS system validation/operational deployment and final acceptance/beginning of maintenance and support agreements?

During go-live the LigoLab Implementation Specialist would provide his or her full attention to the implementation project, providing guidance and assistance as needed.

• Does the LIS lab vendor provide a gap analysis after the initial LIS system installation, identifying the deliverables or tasks remaining?

• Does the LIS company provide a table linking each deliverable to the corresponding user requirement specification it fulfills?

• Does the LIS software vendor use a consistent training methodology for educating new users?

• Does the pathology lab software vendor supply LIS-specific training program curricula?

LigoLab offers new clients both a dedicated platform for video training and an extensive user manual built into the platform. 

• Does the LIS software vendor provide user, administrator, developer, installation, and reference manuals?

• Does the LIS lab vendor provide design, installation, operation, and performance qualification documentation?

• Does the LIS company provide a source code for the LIS system?

With LigoLab, the source code would be placed with a third-party escrow service.

• Does the LIS company provide an optional comprehensive set of test codes suitable for use by the purchaser? 

The Best LIS Software and Best-in-Class Support

In summary, support from LIS software vendors is as vital as the software itself, so asking these key questions upfront will help you understand the support your lab would receive after signing the laboratory information system software license agreement. 

If you have more questions after reviewing the above FAQs and want to speak with a laboratory information system specialist about the LigoLab platform, please don’t hesitate to fill out our form and set up an introductory call.