How to Prepare for Tomorrow’s Tech-Enabled Clinical Lab

Clinical laboratories and pathology groups are vital in providing timely and crucial diagnostic information for physicians and their patients. They accomplish this with a dedicated team and the aid of a laboratory information system (LIS meaning medical), a pathology lab report software solution that centralizes, manages, and secures patient and specimen data, simplifies and standardizes laboratory workflow management, tracks and secures all specimens, generates and distributes patient reports, improves quality control, provides insights into operations, and helps labs meet regulatory compliance requirements. 

Like the labs they serve, all LIS systems produced by LIS software vendors vary in features and functionality. They aren’t commodities. For the best LIS systems, the above description serves as a functionality baseline. More should be expected if the pathology software supporting the lab information system is to help lab operators navigate through turbulent times and prepare for tomorrow’s clinical lab and pathology practice. 

Learn More: Laboratory Information Systems Are Not Commodities!

Soon the most successful labs will be driven by technology. These labs will be adopters of innovation and new tech tools as they become available. They’ll operate both as medical labs and cutting-edge tech companies, providing what’s needed for the most accurate testing and the best patient outcomes. They'll also allow the lab to become a better business by lowering operational costs, boosting productivity, and attracting and retaining more customers and revenue. 

Besides its primary function of using its diagnostic lab software to improve customer relations and patient outcomes, future labs will also be technology and data companies. The most successful ones will work with a technology partner (LIS company) that focuses on building enterprise-level LIS software solutions that can support technology advancements. In essence, this laboratory-LIS company partnership will ensure that the lab is not distracted from its core mission of diagnostics and that it will be able to focus on what it does best - serving the physician and the patient - while its informatics partner does the tech heavy lifting to drive maximum efficiency and market differentiation for the organization.

Learn More: Navigating the Future of Pathology: The LigoLab Advantage

The Importance of Laboratory Information Systems and Automation

So what does the future hold? 

One of the most significant changes will be the addition of LIS systems that support more automation and laboratory robotics that improve efficiency and compliance. 

LIS system automation in medical laboratories will support advanced technology and robotics that perform laboratory tasks that once were done manually. This includes pathology lab management processes such as sample preparation, data entry, testing, and result analysis. Using automation has several benefits, including improved accuracy, increased speed, and reduced costs.

Laboratory tests can be complex and involve multiple steps, making them prone to mistakes if done manually. Automation eliminates the risk of human errors by performing tasks with precision and consistency. A comprehensive laboratory information system (LIS software) can support the entire lifecycle of a case to ensure proper sample handling/sample tracking and reduce the misplacement of specimens by introducing tighter controls and validation steps.  

By automating repetitive tasks, such as sample preparation and testing, laboratory technicians can focus on more complex tasks that require human expertise. This leads to increased productivity and faster turnaround times for test results. Automated laboratory software systems can also work 24/7, reducing the turnaround time needed for test completion and allowing quicker diagnoses and treatments.

Another benefit of automation is its ability to reduce costs. Automated laboratory information system software requires less labor and can process more samples in less time, leading to significant cost savings for laboratories. 

In addition, automation can reduce the number of reagents and consumables used in laboratory tests, further reducing costs. As automation continues to evolve, it is likely to become even more integral to the future of clinical laboratories and pathology groups.

Learn More: Cost of Inaction: The Dire Consequences of Neglecting Modernization in Laboratory Operations and Informatics

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Lab information system integrations with artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology will help with sample processing and data analysis. 

Through image analysis AI can help pathologists improve the accuracy and speed of diagnoses, allowing for earlier disease detection and better patient outcomes. AI algorithms are trained to analyze images of tissue samples and identify patterns that may be difficult for pathologists to detect. For example, AI can be used to detect the presence of cancer cells in tissue samples, even if they are in small or hard-to-see areas. This can lead to earlier detection of cancer and more accurate diagnoses.

AI can also assist pathologists in identifying rare or difficult-to-diagnose diseases that are less frequently encountered. AI algorithms can be trained to recognize patterns in tissue samples that indicate rare diseases, providing pathologists with the information they need for accurate diagnoses. The technology can be applied to sort the cases for the pathologist to review, and as a function of quality assurance to get concurrence from humans and machines.

In addition to image analysis, AI can also be used to assist pathologists in other aspects of their work. For example, AI can analyze patient data, such as medical histories and test results, to help pathologists make more informed diagnoses and free them up to focus on more complex tasks.

Another potential benefit of AI for pathologists is its ability to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing. AI algorithms can analyze large datasets of tissue samples and then identify patterns that individual pathologists may have missed. This information can be shared among pathologists, helping to improve the accuracy and speed of diagnoses.

Another area where AI can be useful in medical laboratories is the interpretation of complex data. Many laboratory tests produce large amounts of data that can be difficult to interpret. AI algorithms can analyze this data to provide more accurate and reliable results. For example, AI algorithms can analyze microbiology data, helping to identify the presence of bacteria and other microorganisms that may be difficult to detect using traditional methods.

AI can also analyze data from laboratory tests. AI algorithms can identify patterns and anomalies in large datasets, helping to identify new biomarkers and predictors of disease. This can lead to the development of new diagnostic tests and personalized treatment plans. For example, AI algorithms can analyze genetic data to identify genetic markers associated with certain diseases. This information can then be used to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to the patient's genetic makeup.

Learn More: How AI Can Propel Medical Laboratories into a New Era of Growth

The Growth of Personalized Medicine

Personalized medicine will continue to grow as the focus shifts to healthcare tailored toward the specific needs of individuals and an emphasis on analyzing and interpreting the data. 

The use of telemedicine and remote monitoring devices will help in this regard. Additionally, clinical labs and pathology groups will be shaped by newly developed diagnostic tests and therapies to support other growing fields of study such as genomics and proteomics. 

Laboratories can develop customized reporting templates that include the patient's specific health conditions, genetic makeup, and lifestyle factors. These templates can be tailored to provide personalized recommendations based on the patient's needs.

Thanks to advanced pathology lab report software and modern LIS systems, reports can be further personalized with result interpretations, highlighting the significance of the findings for the individual patient. 

This can be done by providing additional information on the patient's medical history, lifestyle, and other factors that may impact the interpretation of the results. The reports can include recommendations for dietary changes, exercise regimes, or other lifestyle modifications that can help improve the patient's overall health.

Laboratories can provide patient education materials tailored to the patient's health condition and medical history. These materials can help patients better understand their health conditions and the implications of the laboratory test results.

Overall, providing personalization in laboratory reports requires a combination of customized reporting templates, personalized interpretation of results, contextualized recommendations, and patient education materials. 

By providing personalized and actionable information, laboratories can help patients better understand their health conditions and make informed decisions about their health.

Learn More: How LigoLab's Pathology Lab Software Supports Lab Report Customization and Client Preferences

The Four Keys that Separate Modern Laboratory Information Systems from Legacy LIS Systems

To run a better business today and be prepared for what’s coming tomorrow, clinical labs and pathology groups need to sunset their rigid and outdated legacy LIS systems and invest in modern rule-based, highly configurable, and customizable LIS software platforms that maximize efficiency and interoperability. 

Learn More: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software

So how can one be assured that the lab information system LIS company they’re investing in is correct? 

First, modern LIS software platforms are built on flexible infrastructures that are scalable, flexible, and capable of supporting the newest technology as it becomes available to the lab. 

Second, these future-ready LIS systems are backed by engineers and informaticians who continually invest in the medical LIS with new functionality and enhancements added daily. 

Third, comprehensive training and unlimited LIS system software support and maintenance. This is important because as the lab adds technology and volume, more and more support will be needed to break through barriers of growth and bottlenecks. 

Fourth, the LIS company is a true partner that genuinely cares, aligns, and vests its interest in the laboratory’s success. 

In closing, tomorrow’s clinical lab and pathology group will be tech-enabled and prepared for continued growth and innovation as the industry evolves. By embracing new technology and new approaches to healthcare, they’ll be properly positioned to be profitable industry leaders and play an increasingly important role in advancing both medicine and patient safety.

Learn More: Can Your Laboratory Information System Support the Latest LIS System Technology?