Leveraging A LIS To Meet Today's AP Lab Challenges

How does your technology measure up?
It’s a brave new world in today’s anatomic pathology (AP) lab. Everything is changing, from clinical workflow to how lab professionals track and bill exams, communicate with referring physicians and even market their services. Experts agree that this state of flux will only continue as the healthcare system continues to evolve.

Also changing is the technology supporting labs as vendors update their offerings for today’s growing challenges. While some laboratory information systems (LIS) were created to evolve with new demands, others simply were not. As a result, even if your LIS is just a few years old, it may not incorporate the latest technology and features that will help you successfully compete.

Now is the time to for AP laboratories to turn the tables and give their technology a checkup to ensure it is continuing to meet their needs. Your LIS should provide:

• Enhanced patient safety with safeguards against errors - Key features include bar code technology to ensure positive patient identification and provide end-to-end specimen tracking.
• Laboratory efficiencies - Today, some LIS solutions provide a broad range of business tools and important convenience features that can save labs significant time and boost productivity. Business tools mine and analyze data, helping in operational, management, marketing and other areas. NovoPath’s advanced LIS provides a Lean Process Improvement module that analyzes every step of workflow and identifies bottlenecks and inefficiencies across all lab staff members. It provides an important fully automated method for stepping up productivity. Other efficiencies include batch image capture and scanning. Also consider one-click image acquisition, automatic image insertion into reports, and automatic billing code capture. Turn-around time, often impacting the time taken for patient diagnosis and treatment, is measured and proactively managed on a specimen by specimen basis, reducing costly delays that impact patient care. NovoPath offers a Turn Around time module to manage this.
• High-quality, personalized customer service - Some LIS solutions, such as NovoPath, provide a host of features that help labs deliver enhanced service to their referral base, supporting all-important marketing efforts. For example, electronic requisition features and delivery of reports directly to remote printers are key. Also crucial are report templates that are concise, easy to read and customizable to meet customer preference. Today’s physician demands quick access to information, making connectivity with a range of mobile platforms including iPad and Android a must. Turn-around time tracking also benefits customers.
• Interoperability - Many LIS solutions also seamlessly interface with various IT systems to capture patient demographics, associate test results with patient samples and streamline communication with referring physicians. Solutions commonly connected to a LIS are EMRs, Practice Management Systems, HIS, physician portals and other LIS solutions. A LIS should also connect with a variety of hardware, including slide printers, etchers, whole slide scanners, immunostainers and flow cytometers. To ensure reliability, look for a vendor such as NovoPath that develops its own interfaces, not systems that utilize technology from a third-party.
• Modular add-on features - LIS solutions that utilize a modular approach with specialized functionalities that come as optimal components can save significantly on budget, while keeping labs poised for the future. With this approach, you do not need to pay for a feature you do not need, but it can be added in the future as your laboratory evolves. Important modular offerings include outreach programs, electronic requisitions, web reporting, cytogenetics, flow cytometry, molecular exams and integrated reporting. NovoPath provides all of these.
• Ease-of-Use - An intuitive, user friendly interface boosts workflow on an ongoing basis. Additionally, this also reduces training time and supports quick adoption.
• Customer support - With any technology, customer support and easy and affordable upgrades are crucial. Today, some vendors offer an array of options to meet a lab’s individual needs and budget.
• Value - The system should be priced appropriately for the features offered and the markets the lab serves. Systems are available at a wide range of price points. If you are upgrading your technology, know what you are paying for.

About NovoPath, Inc.
NovoPath, Inc. develops and markets software solutions for the Anatomic Pathology Laboratory market segment that includes local, regional, national, and in-house laboratories as well as community and university teaching hospitals and medical centers. Since the release of its flagship product in 1999, NovoPath, Inc. has focused exclusively on Anatomic Pathology. NovoPath's mission is to provide unique and unparalleled solutions and services to all aspects of the Anatomic Pathology sector in a way that improves workflow, reduces the probability of human error, ensures results accuracy for greater patient safety, protects patient confidentiality, and above all, produces more precise and informative diagnostic outcomes. For more information, visit www.NovoPath.com.