1. What is Laboratory Information System (LIS)?

A laboratory Information System (LIS) is a computer software that maintains, processes, and stores data for laboratories to carry out orders and tests. Laboratory decision-makers utilize LIS systems to streamline their daily operations. According to WHO (2023), it facilitates patient treatment, public health planning, and policy decisions by increasing access to high-quality diagnostic tests and delivering accurate, timely information. It is widely acknowledged to be an effective tool for enhancing both internal laboratory data management and external data reporting. It keeps track of crucial patient information that doctors’ offices and treatment practitioners need in order to accurately diagnose and treat a patient. The majority of this information consists of orders for and results of both arriving and leaving laboratory tests. An LIS also traces lab order progress and provide information to a patient’s electronic health record (EHR). The patient’s personal information, such as name, birth date, gender, address, and medical history, is present in this laboratory information system, just like it is in all electronic health records.

2. What are the uses of LIS?

A laboratory information system’s primary function is to boost the lab’s operational effectiveness by automating operations and managing human patient data maintenance. Operations like barcode labeling, automated and personalized report delivery, specimen tracking, reflex testing, custom report formatting, billing system interfaces, and electronic order entry can all be automated with an effective LIS. Using various algorithms, the LIS basically analyze the patient and organizational data to derive key insights that help diagnose diseases more accurately and help in projecting required steps for the higher growth of the clinic or hospital.

Additionally, in order to proceed with a diagnosis or treatment plan for current illnesses, pathologists, oncologists, hematologists, microbiologists, immunologists, and other medical professionals can quickly and conveniently retrieve crucial test data through a laboratory information system. Moreover, laboratory tests can be used to assess a person’s risk of contracting a disease in the future, such as breast cancer, and to discover new illnesses and effective therapies.

Laboratory Information System has different features that are crucial in carrying out its role in the healthcare system. Some of which are the following:

a. Patient Data Recording and Storing

LIS is responsible in handling the basic entry procedure of the lab. It allows for the organized recording of the the patient’s demographics and other medical information.

b. Reporting

Delivering the final report of the patient’s tests done in the lab is one of the most crucial aspects in the laboratory. The report is considered as the final representation of all the work done in the lab. Hence, it is imperative that the tests conducted must be accurate and organized in every aspect to showcase the authenticity of the lab. A reliable LIS is capable of providing evidence-based, accurate results. It helps the medical professionals in delivering reports in a timely manner and the right distribution as ordered by the patients. The reports can be obtained as per the patient’s preference as well.

c. Patient Accessibility

A big benefit that patients can avail of laboratory information systems is the ease of access to various services of the lab. Whether it is booking of the tests, collection of samples, or getting reports, a lab management system can help you get any of it effortlessly at the comfort of your home.

3. What are the implications of AI in your job?

The contemporary world is characterized by globalization that centers on the interconnectedness among different countries through human exchange. Because of globalization, the free movement of services elevates several schemes for trading or marketing and for technological advancements. As the world continuously evolves, many transactions expand their scope through technology revolution and economic developments. With this being said, the rise Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) in different fields may have several implications depending on the roles they play.

Integrating AI into the healthcare ecosystem (a) allows for several benefits, including automating tasks and analyzing big patient data sets to deliver better healthcare faster, and at a lower cost. It can also (b) administrate tasks like pre-authorizing insurance, following-up on unpaid bills, and maintaining records, to ease the workload of healthcare professionals and ultimately save them money.

With AI’s ability to process big data sets, consolidating patient insights can lead to predictive benefits, (c) helping the healthcare ecosystem discover key areas of patient care that require improvement. Wearable healthcare technology also uses AI to better serve patients. Software that uses AI, like FitBits and smartwatches, can analyze data to (d) alert users and their healthcare professionals on potential health issues and risks. Being able to assess one’s own health through technology eases the workload of professionals and prevents unnecessary hospital visits or remissions.

Although, the integration of A.I. in healthcare has a lot of benefita, it should also be noted that the ethical dilemmas, privacy and data protection, informed consent, social gaps, medical consultation, empathy, and sympathy are also some of the major challenges that we face in the modern world.