Many clinical settings, such as underfunded health labs and hospitals, have failed to embrace various data technologies. Consequently, they are running the risk of missed diagnoses, slow turnaround times, rising overheads, and even regulatory issues.
However, various tech solutions are available to transform clinical settings, from community hospitals to outpatient clinics. Read on for advice on how to improve data accuracy and efficiency in clinical testing.
Introduce a Laboratory Information System
Simplify everyday clinical tasks with a laboratory information system (LIS), as it centralizes data to support modern labs. LIS for clinical labs works by streamlining entire workflows, such as order placement, specimen tracking, internal processes, results, and billing.
This allows your lab to produce faster, more accurate results while improving patient care and satisfaction. The centralized system is also compliance-ready, ensuring your lab adheres to various regulatory requirements.
Invest in Automated Data Capture
It might not surprise you to learn that manual data entry is one of the biggest culprits of transcription errors. If you often run clinical trials or require diagnostic testing, automated data capture is worthy of consideration.
RFID tracking or barcode scanning allows a lab to accurately trace specimens from the moment they are received to clinical analysis. Many labs also use instrument-to-software solutions to instantly transfer results into a database.
Implement Positive Patient Identification
In addition to using RFID tracking to track specimens, various hospitals and outpatient clinics could benefit from Positive Patient Identification (PPID). The patient wristbands feature either a bedside barcode or RFID scanning.
PPID confirms a patient’s identity and ensures they are correctly linked to a specific diagnostic order, medical data, and specimen collection. This prevents a medication or specimen mistake and ensures your clinical setting adheres to strict verification trails.
A hospital study found that barcode-based PPID reduced phlebotomy mislabelling errors by over 40%, helping avoid 100 mislabelling issues annually. This proves how PPID helps avoid medicine or specimen mistakes caused by human error and ensures your clinical setting adheres to strict verification trails.
Standardize All Operating Procedures
If your staff often execute various clinical processes differently, it might be time to embrace standardized operating procedures (SOPs). This ensures every member of staff carefully follows the same data collection and reporting rules.
Ensure you provide digital lab workstations to encourage your team to review step-by-step instructions each day or night.
Embrace Direct Device Interfacing
Many forward-thinking hospitals and clinics have embraced direct device interfacing to eliminate manual charting logs and mistakes. It works by connecting various analytical testing instruments, such as monitors and ventilators, directly to an LIS solution.
It ensures accurate data and improves turnaround times, quality control, and testing. It also provides your hardworking team with more time to focus on other important tasks to improve patient care and outcomes.
Provide Regular Workforce Training
While investing in innovative tools and technologies can transform your clinical setting, you must ensure your staff have the knowledge and skills to use them effectively. For this reason, you must provide your employees with regular cross-functional training to ensure they can use various tools, successfully analyze data, and improve data outcomes. Also, consider providing routine competency assessments to ensure your talented team knows how to effectively use various solutions and technology upgrades.
