Unlock the Secrets: How Laboratory Information Systems Supercharge Healthcare!
April 14, 2021Since its inception, the laboratory information system has advanced greatly and has become a vital component of effectively managing and increasing the pathology department’s efficiency. By standardizing laboratory tests, procedures, and workflows, the software enables labs to improve patient care, reduce human errors, and constructively decrease operational costs.
Unlike in the past, various laboratory management software is now highly efficient in collecting and analyzing evidence-based data to provide valuable insights for accurate diagnostics and patient treatment. Through this post, we will help you comprehend the use of laboratory information systems in daily healthcare practices and how they benefit your organization’s growth.
What Exactly is the Laboratory Information System?
A laboratory management software or system is an IT solution that addresses laboratories’ regulatory, automation, and data management challenges. By using it, laboratories streamline their daily operations to achieve higher clinical efficiency. Traditionally, this system was only used to keep track of the samples collected by the laboratory.
However, with newer technologies, healthcare software has expanded to become an integrated solution for every kind of laboratory need. A basic LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System) manages customer services, invoices patients for services undertaken, and maintains records of samples and tests performed by the laboratory.
Role of a Laboratory Information System
A laboratory information system (LIMS) plays a fundamental role in a lab. It increases the lab’s operational efficiency by automating workflows and eliminating the need to maintain patient information manually. An efficient LIMS can automate barcode labeling, automated and customized report delivery, specimen tracking, reflex testing, custom report formatting, billing system interfaces, and electronic order entry.
However small these operations may seem, they require a huge amount of staff time to complete regularly. Besides, the newly built lab information software is extremely advanced.
Using various algorithms, they analyze patient and organizational data to derive key insights that help diagnose diseases more accurately and project required steps for the clinic or hospital’s higher growth.
Features of Laboratory Management Software
In this modern age of digitization, laboratory management software offers many features. Let us take a look at some of them:
Recording the Patient’s Data
The primary use of a laboratory information system is to handle the lab’s basic entry procedures. These days, the software offers multiple ways of recording the patient’s demographics and other medical information. Some of the ways include:
- Manually typing into the LIMS software.
- Capturing data with a voice recognition system.
- Obtaining data from predefined libraries from online servers.
Also Read: Common Issues with Paper-Based Lab Management Systems & How to Overcome Them
Specimen Processing
A highly functional feature offered in LIMS is specimen processing. Processing specimens typically takes time and keen attention to produce precise results. When using LIMS, however, the specimens can be processed effortlessly according to their specific type and order.
After processing, the lab technicians stain the specimens based on their requirements. Then, the pathologist screens them for abnormalities. Finally, they enter the diagnosis into the software for further analysis.
Integration with Laboratory equipment
The most beneficial feature of laboratory management software is its ability to integrate with different laboratory equipment. LIMS software can directly accept data from lab instruments and add it to the case for further processing.
In the case of bidirectional interfaces, orders come directly to the interface from the user’s system. You can also integrate your software with a web-based outreach module, allowing orders to be placed with pertinent patient information.
Reporting
One of the most crucial aspects of the laboratory is delivering the final report of the patient’s lab tests. The lab team considers the report the final representation of all their work. Therefore, they must conduct precise tests in every aspect to showcase the lab’s authenticity.
A reliable laboratory information system software can provide evidence-based, accurate results. Moreover, it helps to deliver reports promptly and distribute them correctly as ordered by the patients. Patients can obtain the reports based on their preference, such as by email, through the EMR system, or as a printout
Patient Accessibility
A big benefit of laboratory information systems for patients is the ease of access to various lab services. Whether you need to book tests, collect samples, or get reports, a lab management system can help you do it effortlessly from home.
The system allows patients to enter their records, such as medical history and diagnosis, so they can more conveniently access and track their health records online.
Wrapping Up
To achieve higher operational efficiency and significantly improve a lab’s daily healthcare practices, laboratory management software is the optimal solution for any medical organization. A well-designed and properly implemented LIMS structured towards a particular workflow will increase the overall system’s efficiency and provide the patients with improved patient care. SoftClinic’s laboratory management software is a top-notch medical software that is reliable, functional, and full of advanced features to execute all laboratory operations. You may contact their high-end experts for a free demo of the software or to clear any queries regarding your work process.