Laboratory Information Systems
A laboratory information system, or LIS, is a software program that provides all the basic functionality needed for a clinical laboratory, whether that laboratory is hospital-based or a standalone commercial laboratory facility. Various components of the LIS will handle patient check-in, order entry, results entry, physician and patient demographics, specimen processing, and have some level of reporting ability.
Legacy laboratory information systems are typically homegrown, that is, they were developed within the organization 20 or 30 years ago, or were purchased ”off the shelf.” Homegrown systems and legacy systems often have problems with connectivity, scalability and flexibility, especially as technology changes within the laboratory and healthcare industry. Off-the-shelf products often force laboratories to modify their workflow to adapt to the LIS, rather than the other way around. Also, numerous LIS vendors have gone out of business or shifted their focus to other areas in the last two decades. Often legacy LISes utilize multiple databases, which create a great deal of difficulty with database interfaces and data synchronization.
Newer LISes are increasingly able to offer what laboratories need: modular-based systems with customizable functionality, scalability and a high level of adaptable connectivity for both institutional electronic medical records (EMRs) and physician access. Laboratories also require a LIS to to interface with the laboratory’s instrumentation, which allows patient results to be directly entered into the database and then into the EMR; Web-based order entry/result inquiry; and workload balancing. The LIS often has non-clinical functionality such as workflow monitoring and billing services.
In addition, these systems need to be customizable, be able to effectively and easily interface with both the institution’s electronic health record, the laboratory’s automated equipment, and provide Web-based access for physicians.
The environment for health information technology, specifically LISes, requires adherence to a number of national and international standards including CLIA, CCHIT, ANSI, HL7, HITSP, and LOINC.
Epic Gains EHR Market Share as Oracle Loses Ground
EPIC SYSTEMS, THE DOMINANT VENDOR OF ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS (EHR) SOFTWARE, expanded its market share in 2024, gaining a net 176 hospitals and 29,399 beds. That’s according to KLAS Research, which based its data on interviews with hospitals as well as other sources, including the v…
Upcoming Executive War College to Cover Important Lab Trends
New developments now changing the landscape in health-care and the clinical laboratory market will be addressed at the upcoming 30th Annual Executive War College on Diagnostic, Clinical Laboratory, and Pathology Management that happens on April 29-30, 20…
Epic Sued for Antitrust Violations by Small, Start-up Company
IT’S BEING CALLED A “DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH” SPAT. Last month, Particle Health of New York City filed an …
Why Many Pathologists Are Cautious about Digital Path
CEO SUMMARY: In many major academic centers and the nation’s largest regional pathology supergroups, use of whole slide images and digital pathology workflow are accepted and established. This is often because of benefits unsupported by a pure return on investment. The clinical gains ou…
Final Rule on AI Transparency Can Benefit Clinical Labs
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) AND MACHINE LEARNING are becoming ubiquitous in today’s modern hospital systems and clinical laboratories. In response to these developments, federal officials issued a new rule that has major implications on how healthcare providers use artificial intelligence. T…
HHS Publishes Final Rule for Health IT Interoperability
THERE IS A NEW FEDERAL RULE intended to improve interoperability and portability of patient information. This rule could be a significant benefit for clinical laboratories and anatomic pathology groups. In December, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Offi…
Atrium Health’s Advice on Epic Beaker Rollouts
CEO SUMMARY: Starting in 2019, Atrium Health began a years-long process to implement Epic Beaker as its laboratory information system. It was an enormous effort, involving dozens of locations across three s…
VA: 120,000 Cancelled Lab Tests Did Not Route to Physicians
OFFICIALS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) AND ORACLE CERNER found themselves on the …
ARUP Laboratories and University of Utah Create MT Training Center
CEO SUMMARY: To help resolve the ongoing shortage of MTs and MLSs, ARUP Laboratories and the University of Utah’s Medical Laboratory Sciences Division took a novel approach to secure funding for a new laboratory scientist training center. They worked with their congressional repre…
Labcorp Selects Oracle Cerner to Streamline Lab Workflows
THERE IS A UNIQUE CORPORATE COLLABORATION unfolding that involves Labcorp and Oracle Cerner. Announced in November, Labcorp will use Oracle Cerner’s lab information systems to update clinical laboratory workflow processes and support the sharing of patient data across healthcare organ…
CURRENT ISSUE
Volume XXXII, No. 9 – June 23, 2025
In part one of an analysis about the state of AI in clinical laboratories, The Dark Report explores how frontline workers, especially younger ones, are using AI tools like ChatGPT far more than lab leaders. Recent reports elsewhere in the business world show executives underestimate staff AI use, raising concerns about a leadership gap in tech adoption. Clinical lab leaders must get more familiar with AI use cases. Also, in this issue of The Dark Report, there is discussion on how Medicaid cuts may affect clinical labs, an examination of the lab industry fallout from CLIAC termination, an analysis of AMP’s reports that provide crucial insights for Hiring Managers, and notes that regional health systems are new dominant players in M&A.
See the full table of contentsHow Much Laboratory Business Intelligence Have You Missed?
Lab leaders rely on THE DARK REPORT for actionable intelligence on important developments in the business of laboratory testing. Maximize the money you make-and the money you keep! Best of all, it is released every three weeks!
Sign up for TDR Insider
Join the Dark Intelligence Group FREE and get TDR Insider FREE!
Never miss a single update on the issues that matter to you and your business.
The Dark Report
1000 N West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, Delaware, United States, 19801
Phone: 512-264-7103
Email: info@darkreport.com
© 2025 The Dark Report. All rights reserved. Part of the LabX Media Group