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How LIS Software Helps Pathologists Sign Out Anatomic Pathology Cases Faster
December 16, 2024
We invite you to join Implementations Director Petros Martirosian as he demonstrates how LigoLab Informatics Platform, an enterprise pathology lab software company specializing in advanced LIS laboratory information system software, helps pathologists review more cases and sign them out faster.
Of note, LigoLab’s LIS software solution also includes an interwoven and silo-free module for laboratory revenue cycle management (lab RCM, laboratory billing). We’ll highlight that part of the platform a bit later.
In the following video tutorial and screenshots, Petros showcases the laboratory information system’s intuitive user-friendly interface and how the LIS pathology platform optimizes laboratory workflow management by minimizing clicks thereby boosting pathologist productivity and turnaround times.
Martirosian opens the tutorial by explaining which basic anatomic pathology LIS case scenarios will be highlighted. The scenarios include:
- LIS system sign out with a diagnosis template
- Lab information system sign out with a camera
- LIS system sign out without a camera
- Lab information system sign-out using voice dictation software
Let’s start with the tutorial and then follow that with screenshots highlighting important aspects of the anatomic pathology software and laboratory workflow at each stage.
Learn More: Questions All Pathology Labs Should Ask When Evaluating LIS Software and Support
General Anatomic Pathology LIS Software Case Sign Out Video
Launching the Anatomic Pathology LIS Module and the Pathologist Queue
Martirosian launches the laboratory information system and logs in. Upon doing so, he’s taken directly to the Pathologist Queue in the anatomic pathology software module, where all the cases assigned to pathologists are listed.
Learn More: The Role of Anatomic Pathology Software in Optimizing Laboratory Workflow Management
LIS System Sign Out with a Diagnosis Template
Martirosian starts the tutorial by demonstrating how a pathologist signs out a case with a diagnosis template. He takes a slide and scans the slide into the LIS laboratory information system with a barcode scanner. The scan automatically opens up a Microscopic Surgical Template with the cursor conveniently positioned in the Final Diagnosis field.
This is where the pathologist enters a preconfigured template code and then hits the space bar. Upon doing so, the lab information system automatically populates a Microscopic Description, a Final Diagnosis, and a Report Comment. This action also prompts the LIS system to add the appropriate CPT and ICD codes for the case with the data automatically populating within the Lab Report.
Next, the pathologist clicks the “Release” button located directly below the Lab Report. This brings up a Microscopic Pre-release Checklist window that provides a last-minute display of all relevant information. If for example, an interoperative consultation has yet to be performed, that notification would appear here.
It’s important to note that the Pre-release Checklist is an optional window and can be disabled if the pathologist prefers this.
After this final review of the case, the pathologist simply clicks “OK” to release the case and return to the Pathologist Queue where all his or her remaining cases are located.
As you can see, the LigoLab Informatics Platform and the Pathologist Queue are designed to enable quick signing out within the pathology report software, only requiring a few intuitive steps to go from case review to case release.
Learn More: Anatomic Pathology LIS Tour with Allison Still: A Webinar Recap
Lab Information System Sign Out with a Microscope Camera
The tutorial continues with Martirosian selecting a second slide and scanning that slide into the laboratory information system. Like before, the scan prompts the LIS pathology management software to open the Microscopic Surgical Template. From here, the pathologist can capture an image directly from a microscope camera integrated into the LIS system by clicking on the “Camera” icon on the right side of the template.
After clicking the icon, the laboratory information system displays the image shown through the microscope camera. The pathologist can then adjust the camera before capturing the desired image with a click of the “Camera” icon in the microscope camera window.
With this action, the image is automatically added to the case. The pathologist then has the option to add a quick description and annotations to the image before clicking “Save.”
Once saved, the image is automatically dropped into the Lab Report. The pathologist next enters a preconfigured template code into the Final Diagnosis field (like before) to automatically populate that field plus the Microscopic Description and the Report Comment fields. With this action, the proper CPT and ICD codes are also automatically assigned to the case.
At this point, the pathologist releases the case, reviews the Microscopic Pre-release Checklist, and then clicks “OK” to sign out the case, removing it from the Pathologist Queue.
LIS System Sign Out without a Microscope Camera
Next Martirosian demonstrates how to insert an image file captured by an external source into a Lab Report. He scans in a third slide and the Microscopic Surgical Template appears. This time, instead of clicking the “Camera icon, he clicks the “Folder” icon directly to the left (see below). This action opens a window that allows the pathologist to navigate local folders on his or her LIS system workstation and select the desired image to be added to the Lab Report.
From here, Martirosian chooses an image and then hits “Select.” This causes the “Add/Modify Image” window to appear, where he can once again add a quick description or annotations to the image before clicking “Save,” which automatically adds the image to the Lab Report.
Martirosian then demonstrates how a pathologist who forgot the correct template code for the case can choose from a list of preconfigured templates from the Final Diagnosis Template Dropdown Menu.
Once the correct template code has been identified, the pathologist double-clicks on the template to add it to the case, and this automatically populates all of the relevant information.
From here the pathologist hits “Release” at the bottom of the Lab Report and “OK” after reviewing the Microscopic Pre-release Checklist to release the case from the Pathologist Queue.
Lab Information System Sign Out with Voice Dictation
In his final example of expedited case sign out, Martirosian demonstrates how the laboratory information system supports a hands-free sign out with voice dictation software. In this example, he only uses his voice to navigate the LIS system software and sign out a case.
Martirosian begins by scanning a slide into the LIS system. The scan opens the Microscopic Surgical Template. Next, he enables the dictation software integrated into the laboratory information system and populates the Final Diagnosis field with only his voice cues.
From there he says “Open Capture,” “Capture Image, ” “Save Image,” and “Release Report” to quickly sign out of the case without ever touching the LIS system workstation keyboard.
LigoLab’s All-in-One LIS System and Lab Billing Software Solution
LigoLab has provided its anatomic pathology software/LIS pathology lab partners with the industry’s most efficient LIS system for nearly 20 years.
The anatomic pathology LIS module remains the centerpiece of a comprehensive informatics platform that supports all diagnostic disciplines (including clinical laboratory, molecular diagnostics, genomics, and toxicology testing).
To learn how LigoLab’s LIS system solution supports anatomic pathology groups from quick order entry to swift result entry and sign out (plus everything in between) we invite you to review the following two links before "Requesting a Demo" by clicking here.
