Learning Through Writing: Teaching Critical Thinking Skills Through Writing Assignments

A Laboratory Information System or LIS is a computer software that aims to store, analyze, and maintain data gathered from medical tests. An LIS is essential, especially in laboratories, as it processes test orders and test results.

An LIS is closely interchangeable with LIMS or Laboratory Information Management System. However, they are not the same and have differences. A LIS is mainly for medical settings, but LIMS is not exclusive to healthcare only.

LIMS may also be useful in non-medical settings, such as environmental testing laboratories, pharmaceutical laboratories, or water treatment plants (DelVecchio, 2015). It also has specialized capabilities for development, bioanalytical, or manufacturing laboratories (Deloughery, 2019).

Shrestha (2022) explains that a Laboratory Information System contains many functions, including patient management, tracking patient information, maintaining accuracy in test results, maintaining quality assurance of tests and samples, and generating patient bills.

An LIS has three major components: Tracking Sample, Implementing Protocol, and Managing Storage. Tracking samples includes information like the patient’s unique ID and details, assigning them departments, the type and volume of sample, and the date or batch number (Shrestha, 2022).

Implementing protocol is when the system implements Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that contain the necessary steps, guidelines, and processes to enhance consistency, conciseness, and efficiency. Managing storage is when the system tracks the storage of the samples (Shrestha, 2022).

In addition, the common components of a basic LIS are patient check-ins, order entries, specimen processing, result entries, and patient demographics. Moreover, an LIS may also include electronic notebooks, client tracking, a compliance and training database, data centralization, and equipment tracking (Psyche Systems, 2022).

According to a website by Psyche Systems (2022), a Laboratory Information System must have storage organization and sample tracking abilities to work. Storage organization allows the user to know when and where they store samples. In contrast, sample tracking tells the status of the sample during processes, whether the laboratorian has ordered a test, finished a test, or they have viewed the results.

An LIS provides several benefits for patients, laboratorians, and physicians. For patients, it allows them to be aware of their laboratory test results and decreases the risk of sample duplication. It also shortens their stay in the hospital as the LIS manages samples in an organized way.

For laboratorians, LIS increases productivity and efficiency in the laboratory. It reduces miscommunication and makes the job of laboratory personnel during shifts easier, like obtaining details, forming patient reports, and more time on manual work.

Since Laboratory Information Systems provide accessibility to the patient’s test status and results, they enable physicians to retrieve essential data about the patient’s medical condition and use it to formulate the proper diagnoses and treatment of illnesses or diseases.

In our technological world, using Laboratory Information Systems is vital in healthcare environments. It is reliable, secure, and timely. It is widely useful in the laboratory for various reasons and improves laboratory work such as hematology, chemistry, immunology, and microbiology. LIS contributes a great deal to the development of the medical field today and provides a promising future for our healthcare.

References:
DelVecchio, A. (2015). laboratory information system. Health IT. https://www.techtarget.com/searchhealthit/definition/laboratory-information-system

Shrestha, A., & Shrestha, A. (2022). Laboratory Information System (LIS). Microbe Online. https://microbeonline.com/laboratory-information-system-lis/#google_vignette

Systems, P. (2022). What is a Laboratory Information System? Psychē Systems Corporation. https://psychesystems.com/blog/what-is-a-laboratory-information-system/