Clinical Lab informatics Flashcards
Why is the clinical lab informatics system used?
Reduces turn around time
Result reporting made easier (no need to enter results if there is an interface running from PC to LIS, archived results too)
Minimal human error (no misplaced orders/records, decreased transcription errors from handwriting)
Reduced lab responsibilities (finding orders, delivering results, recording QC)
What do you understand by informatics?
Informatics is management and processing of information using computer technology
What is LIS?
One or more applications of software packages along with the associated operating system software and hardware needed to run computer programs that support the operational and management needs of the clinical lab
This specific to the lab system receives, processes and stores information generated by the lab
Lab informatics system
What does LIS system provide for?
- Automated flow of information into, out of and within the lab
- Interfacing with the HER (patient chart)
- Flow of information from instrument to lab LIS software to patient chart (HIS or EHR)
What is the HIS?
Hospital information system. Computerized management of patient care within a hospital
What is the EHR?
Electronic health record. Computer based medical record
What are the functions of the LIS?
Holds demographics, prescriptions and allergies Order entry Maintain sample identification Aid in sample collection/phlebotomy Track sample transport Analytical instrument interfacing/result reporting Result entry QC entry Archive information
What two analytical instrument interfacing activities does the LIS do?
Auto verification
Data verification
What is auto verification?
Patient results generated by an instrument interfaced to a LIS are compared by computer software against lab defined acceptance parameters.
What does the order entry function of LIS consist of?
Processing test request from provider. Electronic, paper or verbal
Acquisition of date, patient identifiers physician ordering test, date and time of request, collection date and time, person entering request, test ordered
What generates the sample ID?
LIS
What is protected health information?
Name
MRN
DOB
Is barcode/accession number patient specific or sample specific?
Sample specific
What is a lab interface?
The software that allows one system to talk to another system when a practice uses EHR
What is uni-directional interface?
When analyzers only transmit or upload information to the LIS and HER. Here the lab can’t receive information electronically. Order requisition must be paper or verbal. Goes from instrument to LIS to EHR
What is bidirectional interface?
Here, the lab can receive or download tests requested from HER by the physician, send information to the LIS software as well as deliver results back the way it came. EHR - LIS - instrument - LIS - EHR
What is the down time procedure?
Reverting back to manual entry if there is an interface failure, computer failure, power outrage
What does automated entry require?
An interface from analyzer to LIS to upload results when instrument is done testing
What are delta checks?
Comparison of two sets of date from the same patient. The difference between the two data sets is compared to a limit set for that analyte
What does it mean when multiple delta checks fail on several tests performed on a single patient?
Patient or specimen has probably been misidentified
Delta checks lend themselves best for what type of analytes?
Stable analytes with little day-to-day variation that are ,ensured frequently such as RBC indices, electrolytes or liver function tests
What are delta checks useful for?
Determining specimen ID, specimen integrity, data entry or analytical errors that QC material may miss
