Team Recommendations
A general theme was the need for more automation of processes. It was determined that a modern laboratory information system (LIS) needed to be a high priority. Workflow automation and standardization are built into a proper LIS, making workflow a seamless process. This would provide audit trails and sample tracking and reduce manual errors and inconsistencies.13 The proper system would ensure orders would automatically come from the patient's chart to the lab eliminating the time lapses identified in their study. It would create labels for the specimens with all the needed patient information to be put on specimen containers eliminating any manual labeling. It would track the sample from the accession area to the various departments with the code on the sample container label. The LIS would make sure the proper diagnostic codes fit the test order or make suggestions to the provider of alternative tests that would fit. It would track each staff member's performance in having to redraw or collect new specimens. Most importantly, it would eliminate manual steps of entering data along the path of workflow.
