Every day, dermatopathology labs receive dozens, if not hundreds, of skin samples from dermatologists’ offices. These labs examine the skin specimens under a microscope to diagnose conditions that range from common skin disorders to life-threatening melanomas. The daily work here can be challenging for many reasons.
Let’s say a patient is visiting a dermatologist to have three suspicious moles checked. The doctor removes all three for testing, and each requires careful attention. Now multiply this by hundreds of patients weekly. Every specimen, no matter how small, must be labeled, processed, examined, and tracked with absolute precision.
For skin cancer cases, the stakes are particularly higher. Pathologists meticulously document every detail – from the depth of the cancer to the margins of the sample – to ensure it’s been completely removed. They also often have to compare current specimens with a patient’s previous samples, which adds another layer of complexity. Single skin samples might even require multiple tests, making the investigation process even more detailed. This is important to help doctors develop effective treatment plans.
Labs also need to stay in constant contact with dermatologist offices to share findings, manage insurance requirements, and deal with regulatory compliance.
Handling this volume of information with traditional paper records just isn’t feasible anymore. That’s why most derma path labs have turned to Laboratory Information Systems or LIS.
It’s a data management tool that started out in the 60s, but today, it’s developed into an advanced digital platform being used everywhere that requires lab management from pharmaceutical labs to food testing facilities. The tool has become particularly indispensable in derma path labs too.
Managing Lab Specimens
Laboratory information systems assign a unique barcode to each specimen. It contains essential patient information and is able to track each step a specimen goes through in the lab. When a dermatologist sends multiple samples from one patient, the system links them all together to the same patient record while tracking each one individually. This precision is important because some samples might reveal carrying disease stages or require deeper analyses.
Organizing Lab Priorities
LIS creates intelligent worklists that automatically prioritize specimens based on several factors – urgency, specimen type, and even specific physician requirements.
Let’s take for instance a rush biopsy that arrives in a lab. The dermatologist suspects it to be melanoma. LIS automatically flags the request and adjusts the lab’s workflow. It’s placed at the top of the processing queue, notifying relevant staff members, so they can prepare all necessary stains and equipment.
This means no more shuffling through stacks of paperwork to figure out what needs attention first. Instead, lab staff can focus on their specialized work, dealing with urgent cases and routine specimens.
Digital Report Creation
Gone are the days of painstakingly crafted handwritten reports. With modern LIS, pathologists have access to smart templates for everything. This guides them through the documentation process, making sure no critical measurements or observations are missed. Plus, with features like voice dictation and auto-population of common findings, pathologists can create detailed reports in a fraction of the time it used to take.
Managing Lab Resources
Running a dermatopathology lab requires significant investment – from specialized equipment and skilled staff to various testing materials. LIS is able to help control these costs, first, through automation. By reducing manual tasks that consume a lot of time, skilled lab professionals can focus on what they do best.
The system also tracks supply use in real-time, automatically generating purchase orders if it detects low supply. Additionally, by optimizing workflow through proper test batching and intelligent scheduling, labs can process more specimens without incurring more costs.
These efficiencies help the system to maintain high testing standards while keeping expenses reasonable. The result is that labs are able to offer competitive pricing to clients and healthcare providers.
Sharing Results Securely
Instead of phone calls and faxes, LIS allows for instant sharing of results. As soon as a pathologist is done with the examination, results can immediately be forwarded to the ordering dermatologist through secure online portals.
The system serves as a digital communication hub where dermatologists can easily access their patient’s history of findings. If they have questions about a diagnosis, they can message the pathologist directly through the system, so there is a documented trail of these important clinical discussions.
Meeting Healthcare Standards
Healthcare laws require labs to maintain detailed records of their operations. LIS makes this part of running a lab much easier since it can keep comprehensive digital trails of everything, from the person who handled the specimen to the tests performed. This proactive documentation reduces compliance risks, allowing lab managers to focus on improving their services.
Ensuring Testing Accuracy
LIS is constantly monitoring results and workflows, flagging anything that seems unusual. For instance, if a diagnosis seems inconsistent with previous findings for the same patient, or if measurements fall outside typical parameters, the system alerts pathologists for a second look.
LIS also tracks important measurements and how often diagnoses need to be corrected. Or how well initial clinical suspicions match final diagnoses. This helps labs recognize areas they can improve so they’re able to meet strict laboratory standards.
Learning from Lab Data
Beyond day-to-day operations, LIS provides valuable data analytics that can shape a lab’s future. By generating detailed reports on test volumes, turnaround times, and diagnosis patterns, labs can get insights into their operations and service trends. This data is useful for research, too, helping identify emerging patterns in skin conditions or evaluating the effectiveness of various testing methods.
Closing Thoughts On LIS Systems for Dermatopathology Labs
There is no doubt that laboratory information systems will continue to become more advanced, meeting new and more complex challenges. As artificial intelligence and machine learning advance, we’ll likely see LIS platforms that can assist in pattern recognition or integrate with cutting-edge diagnostic tools.
The dermatopathology labs who embrace these technological advances position themselves as leaders in diagnostic services, ready to meet the growing demands of dermatology partners and patients alike.
