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LIS Webinar Recap - How to Beat Pathologist Burnout and Combat Staffing Shortages
March 16, 2026
One down and many more planned.
That was the collective feeling after Suren Avunjian, Petros Martirosian, and I concluded a LigoLab webinar focused on how modern medical laboratory information system software solutions can help beat pathologist burnout and laboratory LIS staffing shortages.
It was said during the webinar, and I’ll repeat it here. We’re all excited to bring our audience more webinars that will provide an open forum and help you and your colleagues better understand how implementing modern technologies can create automated labs that efficiently scale their operations and drive staff satisfaction.
We’ve already started planning the next webinar, so stay tuned for more information in the coming days.
Discover More: A Conversation With LIS System Administrator Kristie Becerra
Addressing Pathologist Burnout, its Causes, and its Consequences
We opened the webinar by clearly establishing that pathologist burnout and a lack of qualified medical laboratory technologists are two serious interrelated issues that all clinical and pathology labs face daily.
We highlighted a poll conducted by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) that showed 71.4 percent of practicing pathologists had experienced burnout symptoms in the past, and nearly 33 percent reported burnout as something that was currently affecting them.
The poll also identified what’s causing so much workplace stress, including the lack of autonomy, bureaucracy related to regulatory and compliance issues, challenges with clinical and pathology reporting software like laboratory information systems and electronic health records (EHRs), volatility in the marketplace (mergers and acquisitions), workload, isolation, a lack of qualified staff, and support staff turnover.
Add all this to the constant pressure to deliver accurate case results and short turnaround times, and it’s easy to see why the problem exists and how it raises the likelihood of a mistake that could lead to severe consequences for the pathologist, the practice, and the patient.
Get Insight: How LIS Software Helps Pathologists Sign Out Anatomic Pathology Cases Faster
The Role of Advanced Technology and LIS Laboratory Information System Automation
Next, we heard from Suren, who relayed some sobering numbers showing how serious the problem has become.
“With over 1,000 pathologist job openings on the market, only 500 or so are entering the workforce each year,” he said. “Practicing pathologists are overburdened with case volumes, and the burnout rate is among the highest in the medical field.”
Suren continued by pointing out that pathologist burnout is a multifaceted issue requiring a comprehensive approach to address it effectively, starting with simplifying laboratory workflow management.
“By simplifying pathologists’ daily work as much as possible and adding LIS lab automation to remove the redundant steps and clicks performed hundreds of times a day, advanced anatomic pathology software can significantly impact productivity and, more importantly, job satisfaction.”
Suren recommended a proactive approach shared by the lab and laboratory information system companies to reduce burnout rates and improve overall job satisfaction and LIS staffing stress.
Discover More: What You Need to Know Before Contracting with a Laboratory Information System (LIS) Company
LigoLab Expands Research to Elevate Lab Information System Usability
After that, Suren updated listeners on the recent steps LigoLab has taken to improve its LIS medical software.
“We recently hired top UI and UX researchers and designers to continue our commitment to improving the product and the industry,” he said. “We are also conducting extensive lab information system software user research with dozens of pathologists within our client advisory group and laboratory staff to take the LIS lab solution to the next level. We want to improve the user interface further and reduce the cognitive load on the user base.”
Get Insight: Lab Information Systems - Where the Needs are Greatest
Out of the Box Laboratory Information System Solutions to Minimize Clicks
Suren finished his remarks and introduced Petros, who led the audience through a video demonstration of how LigoLab’s information systems and data management solutions eliminate redundancy and help pathologists sign out cases faster. His anatomic pathology software demonstration included basic case scenarios such as:
- Sign out with a diagnosis template
- Sign out with a camera
- Sign out without a camera
- Sign out while using dictation software
Petros closed the anatomic pathology LIS software demonstration by entering a case result and then releasing that case without a single mouse click.
Discover More: Less Clicking. Faster Sign-Out. Smarter Pathology: Inside LigoLab’s New Speech-to-Text Integration
Interactive Q&A and Key Laboratory Information System Software Takeaways
At the conclusion of the laboratory information system and anatomic pathology software demonstration, the audience engaged in a Q&A with Suren and Petros. Several follow-up questions were asked, including how the LigoLab Informatics Platform interacts with pathology dictation software, and if a future LIS pathology webinar could dive deeper into how these two laboratory software systems complement each other.
Key Takeaways: How Modern LIS System Automation and Smarter Interfaces Reduce Pathologist Burnout
From there, we closed the webinar with what we believe to be the key takeaways for those who attended.
- The impacts of pathologist burnout and LIS staffing shortages are widespread in the industry.
- Modern anatomic pathology software and LIS system automation can streamline and improve laboratory performance.
- An efficient user interface can increase pathologists' productivity.
- With the best LIS systems, it’s possible to work and release a case without a single mouse click.
- A viable long-term solution to the stress is within reach.
We also suggested that all attendees share the Petros anatomic pathology LIS software demonstration shown earlier with their colleagues.
For those who may have missed this webinar, we've included the webinar recording below.
See How a Modern Anatomic Pathology LIS Improves Pathology Workflow Efficiency
LigoLab’s anatomic pathology LIS software supports the full case lifecycle, from accessioning and sample tracking to digital pathology integration, reporting, and laboratory billing. Schedule an interactive demo to learn how an integrated medical LIS and lab RCM platform leads to an increase in efficiency and medical laboratory profit.
Don’t Wait: Speak with a LigoLab Product Specialist!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is causing pathologist burnout in clinical and pathology laboratories?
Pathologist burnout is primarily driven by increasing case volumes, staffing shortages, regulatory pressures, and inefficient laboratory information systems (LIS) or electronic health record (EHR) workflows. According to a survey conducted by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP), more than 70 percent of pathologists have experienced burnout. Additional stressors include administrative burdens, limited autonomy, and the constant pressure to deliver accurate diagnoses with fast turnaround times.
How can LIS software help reduce pathologist burnout?
Modern laboratory information system (LIS) software reduces burnout by automating repetitive tasks, simplifying case workflows, and minimizing manual data entry. Advanced LIS software platforms allow pathologists to quickly review cases, apply diagnosis templates, dictate reports, and release results with fewer clicks. By eliminating redundant steps, LIS automation enhances productivity, which enables pathologists to focus on clinical decision-making.
How does LIS automation improve laboratory workflow efficiency?
LIS automation improves efficiency by automatically routing cases, generating documents, tracking specimens, and integrating with laboratory instruments and reporting systems. These automated workflows reduce manual interventions, prevent errors, and ensure that laboratory processes move smoothly from accessioning to final reporting.
Can an anatomic pathology LIS reduce the number of clicks required to sign out a case?
Yes. Modern anatomic pathology LIS platforms are designed to streamline case sign-out workflows. With features such as diagnosis templates, voice dictation integration, and intelligent workflow automation, pathologists can review, finalize, and release cases with minimal manual interaction. In some advanced systems, cases can even be released without a single mouse click.
Why is user interface design important in laboratory information systems?
A well-designed user interface enhances usability, reduces cognitive load, and helps pathologists navigate complex workflows more efficiently. Modern LIS vendors are increasingly investing in user experience (UX) research and collaborating with practicing pathologists to design interfaces that support faster case review, fewer errors, and improved productivity.
How serious is the pathology workforce shortage?
The pathology workforce shortage is a growing concern across healthcare systems. There are currently more than 1,000 open pathologist positions in the United States, while only about 500 new pathologists enter the workforce each year. This gap places additional pressure on existing laboratory teams and highlights the need for automation and efficiency improvements.
What role does automation play in addressing laboratory staffing shortages?
Automation helps laboratories manage higher test volumes without requiring additional staff. By streamlining accessioning, specimen tracking, reporting, and lab billing workflows, automated labs process more cases efficiently while reducing operational bottlenecks.
What features should laboratories look for in a modern anatomic pathology LIS?
Key features of a modern anatomic pathology LIS include automated workflow management, diagnosis templates, digital pathology integration, dictation support, specimen tracking, analytics dashboards, and integrated laboratory revenue cycle management (lab RCM). These capabilities enable laboratories to improve operational performance while maintaining compliance and accuracy.
How does an integrated LIS and laboratory billing platform benefit laboratories?
An integrated medical LIS and laboratory revenue cycle management platform connects operational workflows with financial processes. When coding, charge capture, and lab billing occur directly within the LIS system workflow, laboratories can reduce billing errors, improve claim accuracy, and accelerate reimbursements.
Can modern LIS platforms help laboratories scale their operations?
Yes. Modern lab information system platforms are designed to support laboratory growth by automating workflows, enabling multi-facility operations, and providing real-time visibility into both operational and financial performance. This scalability empowers laboratories to expand their services and manage increasing case volumes without sacrificing efficiency or quality.
