Going wrong in experiments taking place in laboratories is usual, but proper attention and planning can help prevent damaged reputations, wasted resources, and unnecessary accidents. Below are some reasons why laboratories fail and what can be done to stop them.

A shortfall of orientation with the Business:

Bell Labs, Xerox PARC, and other legendary labs can evoke images of complete isolation and extreme secrecy from the core business. Split-up sorting is significant in the case of organizations where rules and regulations head to balance new ideas. In this case, split-up remains as a rare problem.

The issue inclines that the labs do not have a clear strategy planned with the organization. You can see most of the labs offers kombucha by installing kegs on tap to acquire the creative things beginning and then start to evaluate with only a finite conception of their goals. Some of the team in the labs are not sure that they are charged with disruption or serving the core business.

The committee members and leaders should consider the importance of opening a lac, decide on how the lab will benefit or interrupt the present and future Business, should plan for a remedy in the case of disruption, prepare the works for how the new ideas are going to be executed, and more. The planning and other steps can be successful if it's made with the following considerations.

Vitality: Making clear and creative goals for the lab will assist both company leaders and stakeholders in understanding the intent and direction of the development vision.
Growth: Let's imagine, you have come up with an idea that is validated as well as requires growing outside of the lab. Now, where will you get the additional support for the plan? There are a few options like going back to an accelerator, an incubator, or into the core business. Possibly, troublemaking innovations will go outside of the core enterprises, as it can be developed in a further way and also secured from business-as-usual fingerprints and corporate antibodies.
People: People with purpose and passions are considered to be the heart of the most influential development initiatives as there is no chance for the lab to support the stakeholders who come up with new ideas and implement them in unchartered territory.

Lack of team balance:

Some people have good intentions and knowledge of the industry but fail as they do not have any idea how innovation works. Possibly, the leaders of this type deal with the development and changes as they deal with a problem in the core business. This will lead to more significant incremental improvements.

The other way the lab fails is when they are staffed merely by a team of external tycoons, whose only thinking is to set fire to conventional forms of operating burns bridges along with the organization. It means the people know the steps to build a business or launch startups but will miss the internal networks and knowledge needed to handle corporate networks.

It's essential to take a diverse team to be more successful at your organization. You also need people outside the enterprise, but you need to make sure that they possess different skills including employees for long with a passion for development, creativity and also should know the working nature of the company.

It's not much easy to maintain this balance, but you need to make it happen. The practical development team in or out of the lab needs to be diverse and purpose-driven in terms of background, function, and cognitive style.

The shortfall of metrics to trace success:

Innovation needs unique and creative thinking around economic support. Labs require space to incubate, evolve, or iterate new ideas. Return and financial need to be tracked over time and also should be insisted in advance even if your lab acts as a cost center that is mandated to experiment over the longer term.

Apart from this, there are some other essential things for the laboratories failing like Undervaluing ROI (Return on Investment), hiring extremes, building vs buying, meaningless hackathons, inflated expectations, the CTO/CINO/CIO dilemma, undue focus on interruption, poor project management, a big plan with no stepping stones, ignoring people by focusing on technology, and more.

Do you have any other suggestions to stop the laboratories from failing?

For more information visit MocDoc LIMS Software

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Laboratory Information Management System is an extensive solution, designed to cater for the needs of the medical testing labs, and facilitates seamless monitoring of the lab’s operations by streamlining the processes.

The demand for medical lab services is high and keeps increasing with time, which makes it critical to ensure efficient and high-quality customer service. A sample management system is required to handle this necessity. An appropriate Sample Tracking system guides a medical examiner in streamlining the sample lifecycle, monitoring and operating the laboratory processes, with its comprehensive overview of the test sample. This ensures that nothing is overlooked, from sample collection to movement, to arriving at the test results, by tracking the entire workflow and recording the status.

MocDoc’s reliable laboratory management software performs the sample tracking task, maintaining quality standards and also helping to improve operational efficiency.

The Sample Lifecycle:

The Sample Lifecycle is an integral part of laboratory operations and encompasses three distinct phases: Pre-Analytical, Analytical and Post-Analytical. Managing the sample lifecycle effectively is essential to ensure accurate results and avoid any leaks or errors due to poor sample management.

● Pre-Analytical phase: The Pre-Analytical phase begins when a test order is placed and the sample is collected. The sample goes through the process of accession, where it is acknowledged or rejected for testing. If the sample is accepted, it is then segregated based on the type of sample and the department

● Analytical phase: The Analytical phase is a step of utmost importance, in the sample lifecycle, where the collected and segregated sample undergoes the ordered test and results are generated. In this phase, the laboratory staff will be responsible for selecting the appropriate test methods, preparing the samples, running the tests and ensuring that the recorded results are accurate, precise and consistent.

● Post-Analytical phase: The Post-Analytical phase is the final and crucial step in the sample lifecycle, where the test results are reviewed and verified for accuracy and completeness by a professional, such as a clinician or a doctor, and any necessary corrections or amendments are made. The final report is then generated and delivered to the patient.

The special features of the MocDoc LIMS Sample Tracking system:

Monitoring a sample’s progress throughout its lifecycle helps the professionals in managing the laboratory processes effectively, by analyzing the duration it spends in each department. This enables labs to maintain a satisfactory TAT consistently and also facilitates identifying the cause of any testing delay.

Sample Recieve Workflow:

The Sample Receive Workflow feature in MocDoc LIMS streamlines the process of receiving samples in a laboratory. Sometimes, the samples collected from the patient in the accession department may not reach the processing unit on time, hence it is important to track the sample's arrival time for maintaining allocation turnaround time. With a simple barcode scan, technicians can efficiently receive and track the sample's arrival time, ensuring that the testing process remains within the allocated turnaround time (TAT). This feature is essential for accurately monitoring the progress of samples and ensuring that the results are produced on time.

Staged Process Workflow:

The testing process carried out for a few samples may involve various stages such as cassette preparation, and specimen staining, before the final test results are obtained. These processes can vary depending on the type of test being conducted. It is crucial to monitor these processes to determine the current status of the sample and the time taken for each stage of processing.

This is accomplished with the "Staged Process Workflow" in MocDoc, which tracks the progress of each test at every process, keeping a record of the sample's journey from preparation to completion. The workflow also provides insights into the time taken for each intermediate stage. Customized workflows can be created for each test, based on its specific requirements.

With the advent of technology, the MocDoc LIMS System has made the process of tracking samples simpler. MocDoc's Sample Tracking module allows you to track the status of the samples throughout their lifecycle, from the time of collection to the time of archival, which in turn helps the labs maintain their brand reputation and service standards

Streamlining Sample Tracking w...

Laboratory Information Management System is .....

The healthcare industry, like any other industry, is not self-reliant. Since this is an ever-evolving industry there's no stopping for the challenges that arise or the solutions for it. One such healthcare solution is the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The Laboratory management system has been providing healthcare solutions for the industry, over the past couple of decades: but what it is?

LIMS Software And What Does It Do?

The Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Software started as a system to keep a record of test samples, their results, and all other particulars of donor and patient samples. From the point of its inception, the laboratory management system followed the traditional methods of manual labelling and record-keeping; it was followed only until the introduction of computers to healthcare solutions.

Ever since the Laboratory Information Management System has been on a course of upward trajectory.

As the computers evolved so did software. Dedicated LIMS software packages began appearing with tweaks and new features every time. The LIMS software today is so reliable that once a test sample is collected in the lab or patient's house, it is taken to a pathology laboratory and given a tag, it is almost impossible to lose track of it. The LIMS software packages can manage and update the progress in tests and can also update the results of the tests to the database in real-time.

To put it in simple words:

A laboratory Information management system, shortly known as LIMS, is a software that is used to help lab faculties in collecting samples, processing, and delivering reports to patients. It acts as an interface between the lab faculties and the database where all the information and essential details are stored. This includes all the tests conducted under a particular facility.

LIMS Network:

In its early days, the laboratory management system was an isolated off-network system. But as technology paved the way for more advanced secure networking, the Laboratory Information Management System stepped into the next-gen of healthcare solutions.

Standalone LIMS Software:

Even though the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Software provides easy access to the information from the database, it isn't enough. Its information resource was limited to that one particular facility alone. The limitations of a standalone laboratory management system include:

Limitations in the storage capacity of the database servers.

The maintenance of servers at the healthcare facility itself involves difficulties.

Medical procedures that involve referral to different locations will require the carrying of physical records; which is an inconvenience again.

However the chances are less: if the servers go down it is almost impossible to recover the data unless there is a backup, which will require additional servers.

Since standalone laboratory management systems are not cloud-based, sharing patient reports via App, SMS, or Email is restricted.

Since there are technologies developed already to overcome these limitations, they should be employed immediately.

LIMS Software on the Cloud:

Cloud storage is a powerful technology than it sounds. Cloud storage has virtually no limits on the storage capacity, thereby immensely supporting the laboratory information management system and other healthcare solutions.

The data centres provide a larger bandwidth to access the servers. That is more than enough to provide trafficless access.

Since the cloud servers have multiple redundant systems, there is always a backup, and data loss is not a thing to worry about.

The centralized data centre for the laboratory management system makes it possible to access data from anywhere in the world with authorization.

The maintenance of these servers is extremely cost-effective compared to the standalone LIMS Software.

As LIMS is cloud-based, it can connect multiple stakeholders. You can also have control over sample tracking, processing, and delivery. And there is easy scalability in business.

Patient Accessibility:

The interconnection of LIMS software servers also introduces the patients to the inside of the Laboratory Information Management System. Since the LIMS software made the information easily accessible, the patients can easily keep track of their records. This also helps patients to keep their health records up to date with no effort.

LIMS Beyond Limits:

The LIMS software, even though started as a record-keeping and managing healthcare solution, has now evolved into a state of complete management solution. It has given a massive boost to the administration of healthcare facilities and also the financial management of healthcare centres.

Machine Interfacing in LIMS:

The LIMS software acts as an interface between the laboratory equipment and other devices. The Laboratory Information Management System is capable of interfacing with the database in real-time to import and export data. It also acts as an interface between multiple devices within the lab for better coordination.

For instance, an MRI scanner is only a scanning machine with an image display unit and a control unit. But, with the LIMS software machine interface, the data from the scanner can be stored directly in the database to the respective patient name. It helps the doctors to analyze the data whenever required.

Time Management:

Time management is one of the most challenging objectives of management. The LIMS software used in today's healthcare facilities provides day-to-day management solutions besides healthcare solutions.

The LIMS software can make schedules for doctors and specialists. It also helps in scheduling follow-ups and cancellations of appointments at the request of patients through IVRs and websites.

Since there is always a demand for time slots to access laboratory equipment and devices, including high-cost scanners which are a rare resource, LIMS software can schedule their time slots most effectively.

In addition to these, the Laboratory Information Management System also has the in-house pharmacy records maintained, notifying the maintenance of laboratory equipment and other services.

The AI of LIMS and its future:

The future of the Laboratory Information Management System has already shown us a glimpse of what it is capable of over the years.

AI is the future of every field and the Laboratory Information Management System is no exception. The introduction of LIMS software to artificial intelligence can automate pretty much everything in the laboratory management system and improve the quality of healthcare solutions. Smart labs will be the newest addition to the list of healthcare solutions by the LIMS software.

The advancements in various supporting fields such as microfluidics, biometrics, lab-on-a-chip technologies, and their automation have ensured the steady progress of the Laboratory Information Management system. The day is not far when the AI Laboratory Information Management System (AI LIMS) will be working along with humans and serving humanity.

The Role of Laboratory Informa...

.....

As labs are updated and become more modern, better methods of data management and record-keeping may be necessary to maintain or improve efficiency. Luckily, there is a means to achieve this: Laboratory Information Management Systems, or LIMS.

With the increase in disease and the growth in the medical diagnosis sector, the number of samples collected is increasing day by day. With the help of Machine interfacing, labs can handle a large volume of samples easily, increasing the efficiency of sample processing and the quality of lab reports.

Types of Machine Interfacing in Laboratory Information Management System(LIMS):

Uni-Directional Instruments:

Overview: Uni-directional instruments operate on a one-way communication system, facilitating the seamless transfer of information from the samples to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). In this setup, results are stored within the LIMS database upon the completion of the test process. Unlike bi-directional instruments, which support two-way communication, uni-directional instruments focus on unidimensional data flow.

Workflow Process: The workflow involves manual sample placement by the technician, who assumes the responsibility of strategically positioning samples for analysis. Additionally, the technician plays a crucial role in determining the specific type of sampling method to be employed. This hands-on approach ensures that the instrument receives accurate and relevant data for subsequent processing.

Result Storage: Upon completion of the test, the results are systematically stored in the LIMS database. This unidirectional flow of information simplifies data management, with the LIMS acting as a centralized repository for comprehensive result storage. This streamlined process contributes to the efficiency of data retrieval and analysis within the laboratory setting.

Technician Involvement: The technician's involvement is pivotal in the uni-directional instrument setup, as they guide the initial placement of samples and make informed decisions about the sampling technique. This level of manual intervention ensures precision and control over the testing process, aligning with the laboratory's specific requirements and protocols.

Uni-directional instruments, by emphasizing one-way communication and manual input from skilled technicians, contribute to a structured and controlled laboratory environment where data accuracy and integrity are paramount.

Bi-directional Instruments:

Advanced Functionality: Bi-directional instruments represent a higher level of sophistication and advancement in laboratory technology. These instruments possess the capability to not only generate output data reports and results but also feature an Application Programming Interface (API). This advanced functionality enables the seamless exchange of data, information, commands, functions, and worklists with the system.

Output Data Reports: One key feature of bi-directional instruments is their ability to generate comprehensive output data reports. These reports provide a detailed analysis of test results and relevant information, offering a comprehensive view of the findings. The generated reports serve as valuable documentation for further analysis and decision-making processes.

Results Generation: Bi-directional instruments excel at producing accurate and timely results. The dual communication capabilities allow for efficient data transfer, ensuring that results are not only generated promptly but also transmitted seamlessly to the designated system or database.

Application Programming Interface (API): A defining feature of bi-directional instruments is the inclusion of an Application Programming Interface (API). This interface facilitates the exchange of data, information, and commands between the instrument and the broader laboratory system. The API functionality enhances interoperability, enabling the instrument to import and export data with ease.

Enhanced Connectivity: Bi-directional instruments contribute to enhanced connectivity within the laboratory ecosystem. The ability to import data, information, commands, functions, and worklists through the API fosters a dynamic and integrated environment. This connectivity streamlines laboratory processes, promoting efficiency and accuracy in data handling.

Our LIMS System sends commands to the sampling unit on the type of sampling to be conducted with the given sample. After the testing is done by the LIMS command, the results are auto-fetched on the LIMS Server. The bi-directional instruments are interfaced with the LIMS system programmatically.

The Need to Interface Instruments with LIMS Software:

There are several reasons why it is beneficiary to interface lab instruments with LIMS Software. Let us look into a few reasons here:

Increase in Productivity by Effective Machine Utilization:

Interfacing your instruments with your LIMS Software is a one-time investment of cost and work with a repetitive increase in lab productivity and effectiveness. Interfacing LIMS Software with your lab instruments removes many complexities like manual entering of data every time or referring data from other instruments to the LIMS. This altogether saves a lot of time and effort when done by a LIMS rather than manually, also avoiding any human errors during data entry.

Utilizing machines effectively can increase productivity drastically. When the task is done manually, very few samples are completely analyzed in the given period, but with MI they can perform many sample processing and that will increase machine utilization and increase revenue.

Increase in Data Quality by Reducing Manual Errors:

The second best reason for interfacing your lab instruments with your LIMS Software is the increase in data quality and integrity. As a human, we are eligible to commit human errors that might not be over-influential over the system as a whole but might still be considered an error. By removing human interference, these errors are avoided thereby guaranteeing better data transfer in the system.

Similarly, transcribing data into the system by people can also lead to common errors affecting the quality of data. Data integrity is considered a very important issue in laboratories. By interfacing your instruments to your LIMS System, you will eliminate this issue.

Saves Time in output generation thereby satisfying the patients:

Machine Interfacing helps to analyze the given samples at a faster rate and generates quality results within a shorter duration of time. After the result processing is done, the report will be generated manually.

With the use of MI, ultimate patient satisfaction can be achieved by generating the results in a quick manner with good quality.

Machine interfacing in laboratories is more of a comfort rather than a negative factor. What might be a one-time investment in your labs can save a lot of time and work when interfaced properly with your systems.

Why Machine Interfacing in LIM...

As labs are updated and become more modern, better.....

Effective Steps to Manage Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Software

Upgrading your clinical laboratory might be the latest enhancement you are implementing in your lab. This upgrade means you are automating the key functions to easily maintain the workflow. To make sure that your systems work in a smooth, harmonized, and safe manner, consider installing a cloud-based Laboratory Information Management system in your Lab. The cloud-based LIMS is no doubt the best choice to make as it has many advantages. A few of these are:

The data stored in the cloud are fully encrypted, hence 100% data safety.
Cost saving as there is no need for server maintenance.
With effective data recovery, any data loss can be reverted.
No manpower is required as everything is stored in the cloud, unlike physical servers.

Below are some simple tips to effectively manage your Cloud-based Laboratory Information Management System:

Implement a Cloud-Based Service Desk:

The most important step to do while implementing a cloud-based LIMS system is to provide a mini web page for clients to find information that caters to the needs of every patient. The internet is the influence king of the virtual world; so most of your patients will visit your website first, before heading over to your lab. Set up a cloud-based service desk and assist your patients just like you would do in your physical laboratory premises.

Make sure the webpage has a live chat facility so your customers can chat about the types of tests they can do and laboratory locations. Providing a live chat facility can help you to follow up in case the customers log out of the page suddenly. Also, features such as patient portals and customer portals empower your customers to download reports through the website making them completely independent.

Ease of Mobility:

Investing in a LIMS mobile app or website is the biggest advantage that Cloud-based servers can provide a laboratory. Since the data is stored at a remote location and is not bound by the constraints of physical hardware on the premises, investing in a mobile version of your laboratory’s website or even an App is a good idea.

You can take patient satisfaction to another level when you offer your patients and potential patients the ease to reach or access their health information on the go. With a virtual service desk in place, going mobile would mean more and better interactions and increased patient satisfaction.

LIMS Software Staff Training:

It’s essential to train laboratory staff to unlock the full power of your LIMS software application. To utilize LIMS software effectively, you can segregate the employees, departments wise, and provide training accordingly. Delegating one person as the head of training in every department can take the responsibility of providing LIMS-related knowledge sharing and periodic training. LIMS software training can include configuration options, storage, and retrieval of data, managing your workflows, and reporting. Staff training in each department is very important for businesses to succeed.

Increase Speed of Operation:

LIMS Software, specifically designed for laboratory information management, plays a pivotal role in optimizing operations. With a focus on pathology lab software, LIMS efficiently monitors various aspects such as Sample monitoring, sample workflow processes, patient visit count, inventory flow, cash flow, consultant performance, and overall business fluctuations over time. Through the analysis of these metrics, LIMS issues performance-based documents and develops standard quality indicators and key performance indicators, providing a comprehensive solution for laboratory management.

Additionally, Cloud-based LIS (Laboratory Information System) enhances the speed of laboratory operations. While technology facilitates remote meetings, Cloud-based LIS goes a step further by enabling access to data from any location, granting the user the necessary access rights. This feature ensures a swift exchange of information, contributing to an overall increase in the speed of laboratory operations. By seamlessly connecting personnel across different locations, the Cloud-based LIS becomes a valuable asset in streamlining workflows and promoting efficiency within the laboratory environment.

Ease up the Implementation Process and Quality Indicators:

The constant check of quality to ensure stability in business is a major requirement for any industry. With clinical laboratory, it is more of a service quality check rather than product one. Hence, quality indicators are of utmost importance to a laboratory.

LIMS Software, specifically designed for laboratory information management, can efficiently monitor various aspects of laboratory operations such as Sample monitoring, sample workflow process, patient visit count, inventory flow, cash flow, consultant performance, and overall business fluctuations over a period. The system analyzes these metrics to issue performance-based documents, and through the utilization of cloud technology, LIMS can develop standard quality indicators and key performance indicators.

By integrating a cloud-based LIMS System into your laboratory functions, you can optimize processes and identify areas for improvement. This innovative solution allows you to identify and understand your business metrics, paving the way for enhanced business optimization through the power of cloud technology. Whether it's managing sample workflows or evaluating consultant performance, the inclusion of LIMS Software, tailored for pathology lab software, brings a comprehensive and efficient approach to managing laboratory operations.

5 Effective Steps to Manage LI...

Effective Steps to Manage Laboratory Information M.....

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Why Many laboratories Fail And What You Can Do To Avoid It

Published By Sanjana

Category LIMS

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