News
The Four Most Important Things to Consider When Modernizing a Laboratory
January 2, 2025
Anatomic pathology groups and clinical laboratory operators can either disrupt or be disrupted, and the key to sustainable growth and future success lies within their grasp.
By choosing the best LIS laboratory information system (LIS abbreviation medical, LIS software) and lab revenue cycle management (lab RCM) solution, they can move forward confidently into the future knowing that their lab pathology software/laboratory informatics platform has the flexibility and the capacity necessary to pivot and evolve with whatever change is coming next.
By choosing the wrong pathology lab management system, they may be saddled with a lab information system that limits growth potential while putting the operation in danger of becoming obsolete.
Learn More: The Benefits of a Modern Pathology Lab Management System
Thanks to an aging population and consolidation throughout the industry, there is an ever-increasing demand for labs to handle more cases even as the reimbursement per case is shrinking. To take advantage of the demand and thrive despite industry challenges like Medicare rate cuts, shifting regulations, increased compliance pressures, and a workforce short on qualified technicians, labs must proactively find and implement an advanced pathology information system solution with a premium on configurability, efficiency, interoperability, and transparency.
Learn More: Laboratory Information System Software and its Role in Overcoming Laboratory Staffing Challenges
Medical LIS Configurability
It’s an adage and it’s true. No two laboratories are alike. What’s best for one laboratory may not be best for another.
When choosing a new laboratory information system/medical LIS solution, lab operators should first consider whether LIS software vendors are selling an “off the shelf” solution, or one that can be tailor-made to fit the unique needs of their lab.
Is the LIS system software agile and flexible?
Can it customize lab reports and effortlessly distribute them?
Can it support and positively transform overall laboratory workflow management?
Can the LIS medical system be relatively easy to configure and maintain?
Does the LIS system have the capability to support a wide range of customer preferences?
Does the LIS company representing the LIS system software have the domain expertise and best practices knowledge needed to keep the lab up-to-date with constant platform enhancements and upgrades?
Does the LIS company align with your lab’s needs and desire to scale and take charge of the marketplace?
Does the diagnostic lab software platform provide an end-to-end solution beyond core workflows while providing all the supporting modules a lab needs, including the financial ones?
Learn More: Best LIS Software - Maximize Growth With Cutting-Edge Pathology Lab Management Software
Lab Information System Efficiency
Today’s challenge for labs is to meet the increasing demand for more tests by increasing throughput while not sacrificing accuracy. To meet unprecedented demand while putting the lab in a position to scale, the business’ LIS system and laboratory revenue cycle management (lab RCM) solutions must optimize efficiency through automation and streamlined laboratory workflow management.
For efficiency to go up tedious manual processes must be automated with advanced laboratory information system functions. When shopping for a new pathology lab software solution, lab operators should prioritize one that greatly reduces sample preparation and turnaround time while drastically limiting lost and mislabeled samples.
Does the lab information system solution have a powerful rule and automation engine?
Is it a logic-based LIS software platform that minimizes clicks?
Is it a user-friendly LIS system built by laboratorians for laboratorians?
Does the medical LIS solution have a robust tracking system built throughout the laboratory informatics platform, providing end-to-end coverage that drastically reduces errors and lost specimens while boosting quality control?
Labs are busy places and pathologists have important jobs to do. By boosting efficiency, they can spend more time on diagnosis, which benefits the provider/customer and ultimately the patient.
White Paper: Comparing LigoLab Informatics Platform with Legacy Laboratory Information System Software
LIS System Interoperability
To achieve interoperability with other laboratory software systems the lab’s medical LIS & lab RCM solutions should have an open architecture that enables a powerful interface engine to quickly and easily connect with any enterprise EHR, physician EMR, instrument, or middleware. Lab operators should identify and implement an informatics platform that can expertly handle the expansion of services into areas like digital pathology, genetics, and precision medicine.
Learn More: Advances in Digital Pathology
By providing modules for these growing areas of opportunities, the healthcare LIS solution can spur growth by opening up new revenue for the business. Lab leaders should also seek a pathology reporting software solution that seamlessly integrates with state registries for quality assurance and compliance purposes. With maximum interoperability, quick scaling is possible.
Laboratory Information System Transparency
Moving away from fee-for-service and toward the preventative care model means labs must shift how they do business. High patient deductibles and lower reimbursements from payers mean labs must actively find better ways to collect payment for their services. Write-offs for bad debt or rejected claims are no longer acceptable in today’s business climate. Every dollar counts.
Laboratory billing (lab revenue cycle management) has traditionally been a backend RCM process, but that needs to change. Lab operators should look for an informatics platform with advanced lab RCM functions that capture correct patient demographics on the front end and check for patient eligibility and insurance discovery in real-time at order entry.
They should also implement laboratory billing solutions that give them full control and transparency so they can track and collect all balances, including the small ones, with little to no manual assistance.
Lab billing transparency should be a vitally important aspect of the laboratory billing process. It should deliver valuable insight into all lab operations, providing top or low-level views of data across all departments. When armed with operational knowledge pulled from business intelligence, lab leaders can identify potential bottlenecks in workflows and employee inefficiencies before it’s too late to act.
Finding the best LIS & lab RCM informatics platform can be time-consuming but anatomic and clinical pathology labs that take their time and do their homework will be rewarded with pathology lab management and lab revenue cycle management solutions that eliminate pain points, boost productivity, and fuel growth while providing full transparency and control.
Learn More: Clinical Laboratory Management Solutions for Lab Revenue Cycle Management (Lab RCM)
Revolutionize Your Pathology Lab Operations with LigoLab’s Cutting-Edge LIS Software Solutions
Anatomic and clinical pathology laboratories today face numerous challenges, including declining reimbursements, staffing shortages, stringent regulations, and high client turnover - all of which threaten operational efficiency and growth.
To stay competitive and navigate these hurdles, labs need a strategic pathology lab software partner equipped to address inefficiencies and adapt to fast-paced technology advancements.
For labs still relying on outdated legacy laboratory information systems, LigoLab offers a transformative and modern LIS software solution. Our all-in-one medical LIS and laboratory billing platform eliminates the silos and data integrity issues of legacy LIS systems. With its flexibility and scalability, LigoLab’s platform empowers medical labs to modernize operations, streamline workflows, and position themselves for long-term success in an ultra-competitive environment.
Learn More: A Closer Look at LigoLab’s Commitment to Innovation
