Laboratory Systems

Laboratory information systems (LISs) or laboratory management systems (LMSs)—not to be confused with learning management systems—are hardware and software systems that manage the entire workflow of a medical laboratory setting. Most lab systems have scheduling, data management, interfaces for the lab equipment, and workflow management capabilities. All of them must have auditing capabilities to ensure that samples are handled appropriately and for access to lab results for HIPAA compliance.

Ambulatory-care sites typically do not provide their own lab infrastructure. They send patients to a laboratory services provider in the area. Like hospitals, these providers have integrated systems that allow specimens and the results of the lab work to be tracked. Once the lab work is complete, the provider sends the results via fax or allows access to a web portal. In certain cases, labs will call the physician to notify them of an extreme case that needs to be addressed immediately. Physicians often can choose the way they would like to receive the information.