Not all laboratories have converted to digital systems. Their manual procedures are time-consuming and prone to human error. Many lab managers come under stress when they need to deliver timely metrics. This is because several laboratory information systems (LIS) give restricted management reports and implement sub-par lab analytics solutions.
These reports are not delivered in real-time and they have limited value when you need to improve quality, reduce errors, and enhance business intelligence.
As a result, lab managers are seeking lab analytics solutions that will serve as data mining tools. These tools can pull out and reveal a wealth of information in a few seconds. They help managers and supervisors make smart decisions in the following ways:
1. Identify Changes in Specimen Defects
Laboratory analytics tools can quickly locate specimen defects to serve as a basis for operational improvement. Vital specimen data can be captured including details like the quantity of insufficient or hemolyzed specimens. These defects can be tagged with details about the source of the specimen.
With this information, lab managers can check for hemolysis and insufficient quantities. This will provide insight for improvement and prevent re-sticking patients. Analytics will also minimize test result errors which may present serious financial drawbacks and health risks.
2. Provide Testing Turnaround Reports
Lab analytics can provide turnaround reports that allow you to drill down and see the time used for each activity. They can reveal the time:
- from order to collection
- from collection to receipt
- from receipt to testing
- from testing to report
These times may be analyzed for each lab department, individual tests, or group of tests. Other parameters that can be analyzed to determine their test turnaround time include, employees, providers, clinics, and shifts.
3. Monitor Quality Control
An effective analytics system reduces lab errors through more efficient quality control. It helps to identify trends or shifts from established quality parameters. Using statistical values such as standard deviation or coefficient of variance makes it possible to quickly discover if a lab instrument’s reports and results are abnormal.
4. Show Evidence of Compliance
Analytic reporting may serve as evidence of compliance (EOC). This demonstrates that the lab adheres to regulations on operational quality control. You can use the analytics report to fulfill a list of regulatory requirements or use it to produce a report on metrics for effective quality management. Such reports include:
- Analysis of abnormal specimen flags on a weekly or monthly basis
- Identification of correlations from one instrument to another for the same type of test
- A list of defective specimen tests caused by different factors such as specimen quantity, incorrect results, or cancelled tests
Learn More About Lab Analytics Solutions
Lifepoint Informatics has the experience (over 20 years with over 20,000 completed projects) to successfully implement an effective analytics solution for business intelligence in your laboratory. If you want to set up an analytics solution or software to work with your LIS or you need to upgrade your current LIS, then contact us for a free demo or call 877.522.8378 today.