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How do I Know if My Laboratory has Outgrown its LIS System?
February 21, 2025
All one needs to do is spend one day in a medical laboratory to quickly understand the important role that a laboratory information system (LIS) pathology lab software plays while supporting a lab’s technical operations. In basic terms, laboratory information systems record and store patient and specimen data while tracking specimens through every stage of diagnostic testing. These LIS systems also drive productivity and efficiency while generating and distributing lab reports to lab customers.
Be it a high-volume full-service clinical laboratory, a growing pathology group, or a molecular diagnostics start-up lab, the importance of LIS software cannot be overstated. But what happens when a lab and the industry begin to evolve and expand?
In most cases, legacy LIS systems and homegrown pathology lab reporting software solutions aren’t built with flexibility and scale in mind, and an inadequate medical LIS can quickly become a barrier to business success.
The best LIS software doesn’t have a shelf life. Leading laboratory information system companies that understand this offer flexible and comprehensive LIS system software that supports all laboratory workflow management and adapts and scales as the lab does, enabling the business to reach its full potential faster.
Learn More: The Best Laboratory Information System Companies and the Advantages They Offer to Their Laboratory Clients
Editor’s Note: A laboratory information system (LIS in healthcare, LIS medical) and a laboratory information management system (LIMS lab management software, Lab LIMS) are two diagnostic lab software solutions often used interchangeably even though they are distinctly built to support radically different types of labs.
Learn more about the differences (LIMS vs LIS) by clicking the link below.
Tips for Evaluating Your LIS Laboratory Information System
Identifying if a lab has outgrown its LIS laboratory information system from within can be challenging, but it's vitally important for efficient operations and scalability. As an LIS company with 20 years of industry experience, and having replaced legacy LIS systems in over 200 laboratory facilities, we at LigoLab are acutely aware of the struggles labs with inadequate lab informatics face. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of common issues that typically indicate clearly that it’s time for a lab to upgrade its laboratory workflow management with advanced LIS pathology software.
Learn More: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software
Is Your Lab Experiencing Any of These LIS Software Issues?
LIS System Difficulty Adapting to Changes
If your LIS model struggles to keep pace with laboratory workflow management changes, it’s a sign that you've outgrown the LIS software. Your lab information system should be flexible and able to adapt to new tests, regulatory changes, and updated and more streamlined laboratory workflows. It should allow your personnel (LIS staffing) to make changes via configuration to enhance workflow efficiency.
Laboratory information system vendors typically charge thousands of dollars for a simple change that can take weeks and months to deliver, and sometimes they even fail to complete the requested change. If you frequently request customizations from your LIS company thanks to configuration limitations, it's time to look for a more agile and flexible LIS system software.
Bottlenecks in Laboratory Workflow Management
Operational efficiency is paramount for any laboratory setting. If your lab information system causes delays due to slow processing times, data entry errors, or convoluted workflows that require more labor due to insufficient pathology software support, it could be a sign that your medical LIS is holding you back.
A modern medical laboratory information system streamlines operations, supports rules and automation, and enables laboratory technologists to work smarter, not harder by erasing the need for external LIS lab solutions and mostly manual processes (Excel, log sheets, etc.).
Costly Manual LIS System Workarounds
Advanced Examples of laboratory information systems start with rule and automation capabilities that help take pressure off a lab’s staffing requirements - an important consideration these days with most labs struggling with the cost of acquiring and retaining qualified personnel.
Are manual workarounds eating up too much of your lab’s FTE budget? If yes, it’s a good time to call on other LIS system vendors and learn more about how modern labs leverage LIS system automation to keep expenses and compliance in check.
Inadequate LIS System Integration
An effective LIS software/laboratory information system should seamlessly integrate with other key laboratory software systems, including Electronic Health Records (EHR), laboratory billing software, government agencies, and lab instrumentation.
When a medical LIS fails to communicate effectively with other pathology software solutions, it causes unnecessary manual work, lost revenue opportunities, an increased risk of errors, and wasted tech time.
Limited LIS System Reporting Capabilities
As your clinical lab or pathology group grows, so does the need for detailed, robust statistical and productivity reporting. If your LIS pathology solution is unable to provide the reports you need to run a successful operation or makes it difficult to access and analyze your data, or if it takes LIS system software personnel days rather than minutes to put together monthly, quarterly, and annual reports - you've likely outgrown it. A sophisticated LIS laboratory information system offers customizable reporting and lab analytics to support data-driven decision-making.
Custom personalized report templates that reflect customer preferences for design and delivery are no longer “nice to haves.” Instead, they’ve quickly become the norm. Your business will be negatively impacted without the capability to modify and adapt lab reports to meet customer needs. Your practice or lab growth is unsustainable If LIS software vendors charge $5,000-10,000 every time you need to modify your reports. On the other hand, modern LIS software empowers your team to make these changes easily and at no additional cost.
Inadequate Lab Information System Support for Future Growth
If your lab information system cannot scale to meet your lab's growth plans, it's a clear sign you've outgrown it. Whether planning to expand the test menu, increase testing volume, or open new locations, modern LIS lab software with advanced features will support this growth, not restrict it.
Antiquated and legacy pathology LIS systems were designed to meet the needs of the time they were created, which is understandable. But today’s advanced lab environment demands much more and receives this from the best LIS laboratory information system software. When labs are tied to legacy LIS software, they often experience an artificial growth ceiling with multiple challenges that hinder scaling, performance, and potential. That’s not the case with today’s advanced LIS system pathology software.
Lab Information System Not Compliant with Regulatory Standards
Regulatory compliance is a critical aspect of laboratory operations. It's time to upgrade if your medical laboratory information system struggles to meet the latest regulatory requirements for organizations such as CAP (College of American Pathologists) and CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments). The best laboratory information system software meets the current standards and can quickly pivot to handle and standardize new clinical lab workflow to meet new regulations.
As an example, LigoLab Informatics Platform not only automates and standardizes procedures, but it also offers compliance-conscious laboratory workflow management and reports, ad hoc data query capabilities, and compliance verification at every stage, thereby ensuring that its lab partners have the tools to operate within regulatory guidelines at all times.
Learn More: A Detailed Look at How Modern Laboratory Information Systems Fully Support Quality Control
Tips to Maintain Compliance and Prepare for Audits
To maintain compliance with regulatory standards and prepare for audits, here are tips for medical laboratories to follow, be it with LigoLab’s all-in-one medical LIS and lab RCM platform or with another pathology lab management system:
- Follow Regional Guidelines: Each region has specific guidelines and regulatory bodies in the United States. These guidelines include standards for test performance, personnel qualifications, quality assurance, quality control, and proficiency testing.
- Documentation: All procedures and protocols should be documented with a robust and searchable audit trail that logs every activity. This includes everything from specimen collection and processing to reporting for audits and inspections. This documentation should be kept up-to-date and readily available for review.
- Training: Staff should be adequately trained and competency should be regularly assessed. Training should cover technical procedures and regulatory requirements within a training environment set up within the lab information system by the medical LIS provider.
- Quality Control and Assurance: Regular quality control (QC) checks should be performed on all equipment, reagents, and procedures. Quality assurance (QA) processes should also be in place to monitor the overall quality of the laboratory's work and flag out-of-range values. For modern LIS systems, QA and QC processes can be tracked within the LIS software, removing the need to track reagent lot numbers and expiration dates outside the LIS system via Excel or log sheets.
- Validation and Calibration: All new equipment and tests should be properly validated before they are used for patient samples. Equipment should also be calibrated regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. The best laboratory information system software helps personnel manage all validation by maintaining calibration and maintenance schedules.
- Safety: Laboratories should follow safety guidelines to protect patients, employees, and the environment. This includes proper handling and disposal of biohazardous materials, use of personal protective equipment, and regular safety training. A modern lab information system with an embedded sample tracking module assures this level of safety.
- Privacy and Confidentiality: Patient data must be handled by following privacy laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the U.S. This includes secure storage and transmission of data and data guarding while providing patients with on-demand access to their information. Modern LIS systems are designed with the latest data security measures, including user authentication and access controls, encryption, and audit trails to track access and any changes to the data.
- Regular Audits and Inspections: Regular self-audits should be conducted to ensure ongoing compliance. In addition, laboratories should be prepared for unannounced inspections by regulatory bodies.
- Continual Improvement - Lastly, laboratories should strive for continual improvement. This includes regularly reviewing and updating procedures, addressing any issues or non-compliances identified during audits or inspections, and staying up-to-date with new guidelines and best practices. The best laboratory information system software can help by providing comprehensive data analytics capabilities.
Here are other items to consider on this topic:
First, some laboratory information systems have rule engines that check for potential compliance issues before processing orders or reporting results.
Second, the best LIS software can interface with other laboratory software systems such as electronic health records (EHR), laboratory billing solutions (lab revenue cycle management systems), and regional or national health information exchanges, helping to ensure data is shared securely and appropriately while still complying with interoperability requirements.
Third, these general tips for compliance will vary depending on the region and the specific type of laboratory (clinical, research, etc.), making it crucial to deeply understand applicable laws and regulations in your area and field.
An advanced LIS laboratory information system is critical in maintaining regulatory compliance in a laboratory setting because it ensures data integrity, maintains high standards of quality control, enables robust reporting capabilities, and provides advanced analytics, However, it's essential to remember that a lab information system is just a pathology lab management tool and the ultimate responsibility for regulatory compliance still lies with the laboratory's personnel.
Lack of LIS System Cloud and Mobile Support
A modern LIS laboratory information system should allow for on-premises and cloud deployments. If your LIS system does not, it may limit your ability to access critical data, scale easily, meet your strategic goals, or leverage the benefits of automatic LIS system software updates and offsite data backup.
High Total Cost of LIS System Ownership
If the laboratory information system requires frequent and costly updates, and the LIS company continuously charges for modules, users, upgrades, and features, that’s a red flag. Additional warning signs include excessive customization fees and extended implementation timelines from LIS software vendors, high maintenance costs, and the need for an in-house IT team to manage the system.
Effective pathology lab management with a modern LIS system should provide high value at a reasonable total cost of ownership. It’s time to consider a lab information system upgrade if any of the issues listed resonate. A modern and flexible LIS lab solution like LigoLab Informatics Platform could revolutionize your lab operations, streamline laboratory workflow management, improve reporting, and support your laboratory's growth now and in the future.
How Will I Know if the New Laboratory Information System is an Upgrade?
Just like no two medical labs are alike, the same goes for laboratory information systems and the laboratory information system companies that produce them. Since that’s the case, here are tips on how to tell if the LIS system under evaluation is truly an upgrade from what’s in place currently.
A Comprehensive Laboratory Information System
Choosing the best laboratory information system functions at this stage is critical, and the last thing you want to do is select a lab information system that lacks features and growth potential. Advanced LIS systems that include all the embedded modules integral to long-term laboratory success are available and affordable. When evaluating various medical laboratory information system solutions, be sure to ask if the following elements are included with the LIS system you’re investigating:
- Rule Engine
- Automation Engine
- Integration Engine
- Specimen Tracking
- Billing Management
- Patient Engagement
- Outreach (Ordering, Reporting, Supply Ordering, Tracking)
- Document Scanning
- Send Out Management
- Business Intelligence
- Customer Service Management
With LigoLab, all these modules and applications work in synergy to provide a holistic laboratory information system software solution tailored to the multifaceted needs of modern clinical and reference laboratories and pathology groups.
LIS System Services and Support
Once you’ve determined if the LIS system you’re evaluating is comprehensive, you’ll next want to learn about the LIS software vendor’s approach to LIS system customer service and support. This is especially important because LIS software support can result in unexpected or hidden costs to add seats and modules as the lab evolves. The last thing you want to do is upgrade your pathology lab software without a complete understanding of any costs that may adversely affect the growth of your business.
To optimize laboratory workflow management, you’ll want the LIS software support team to be an ally, available 24/7 for critical issues with unlimited support and training during normal business hours.
LigoLab’s Commitment to Independent Laboratories
You can make the case that independent clinical laboratories and pathology groups are underserved in the healthcare industry, so upgrading to a laboratory information system backed by LIS software vendors keenly aware of distinct requirements and hurdles is a big plus.
At LigoLab, we’re committed and exclusively focused on the success of our independent laboratory clients. Our 20 years of experience and best practices in this space give us a profound understanding of the unique market dynamics and what medical laboratory solutions today’s independent labs need to scale efficiently.
To learn more about LigoLab and our all-in-one LIS software solution for pathology lab management, contact us and connect with a product specialist.
