Challenges in Ensuring Effective Communication among Laboratory Information Systems

Abstract

Interfacing a hospital's laboratory information system with client information systems such as electronic medical or health records (EMRs/EHRs) is not a straight forward process. Many variables affect how to configure both the client's system and the laboratory's information system and in turn determine what is possible for passing data from one system to another. Information systems have different capabilities and have varying degrees of configurability. Laboratory testing varies due to instrument and differences in methodologies. Local definitions of what constitutes the appropriate parameters to report for a given analyte will mean that one laboratory's definition for a test will be different from another laboratory's definition. Other processes and work flows that need to be accounted for include test cancels, credits and reflex testing. How systems accommodate these exceptions is not standardized and will vary with the respective informatics environments. Alternate manual work flows may be needed to address extraordinary problems.