The future of Diagnostic Laboratory Report Management is being shaped dramatically by several significant trends. Data — the backbone of strategic growth and expansion of any laboratory is permeating every element of Lab management.
The growing inclination towards LIMS for better laboratory report management can be attributed to the fact that it generates fascinating clinical laboratory reports with all much-needed actionable data. Further, pathologists and lab owners can record, analyze, and utilize business data effectively.
Effective Laboratory Report Management Through LIMS Reporting
Laboratory Report Management involves the systematic organization, storage, and retrieval of laboratory reports. It encompasses processes for collecting, analyzing, and presenting data obtained from various laboratory tests and experiments. Also, efficient management ensures the accuracy, traceability, and accessibility of reports, facilitating informed decision-making and regulatory compliance.
Laboratory Report Management is essential across various types of laboratory reports, ensuring efficient handling of data and information. Moreover, from analytical reports detailing test results to Operational reports outlining research findings, effective management is crucial. It involves organizing, storing, and retrieving reports systematically, maintaining accuracy and accessibility. Whether it’s clinical reports in healthcare or research reports in academia, robust management practices streamline processes. Further, it facilitates collaboration and upholds data integrity, ultimately contributing to enhanced decision-making and overall laboratory performance.
Here are the types of lab reports you should look for in a LIMS:
1. LIMS Analytical Reports
Laboratory Analysis Reports generated using top LIMS are a combination of various elements of your laboratory put together for comparative analysis, needed for effective management of your laboratory. Furthermore, these LIMS reports help monitor cycle time, analyze business growth, track departmental activity, and evaluate the sample load.
Some of the analytical reports commonly generated using the LIMS reporting system are- test analytics, TAT analytics, outsource analytics, department-wise analytics, marketing analytics, financial analytics, and more.
Below are the most used types of Laboratory Analysis Reports:
A) Test Analytics Report
It provides an analysis of the number of tests conducted for all patients for a given period. Using this, you can identify the topmost types of path lab reports for the tests that are conducted in your lab in terms of number as well as income.
B) Overall TAT Report
These are based on pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical TAT, and are one of the most important types of laboratory reports. The statistical representation of all data gathered here helps you understand better. It makes the necessary alterations in your operational flow to improve your turnaround time.
2. LIMS Operational Reports
With automation, analyzing and monitoring operations is easier with timely reporting. Operational reports by the LIMS software for laboratory reporting system investigate all factors that contribute to the smooth operation of the lab. Further, the types of lab reports include Test counts, approved results, canceled results, processing sample info, and stock consumption to name a few important ones.
A) Department-wise Reports
This gives an in-depth analysis of the performance of every department of your laboratory and measures staff productivity. These types of laboratory reports help you take necessary actions for better utilization of human resources.
B) Patient-wise TAT Reports
These path lab reports give you a detailed analysis of every stage in patients’ sample-to-report journey in your laboratory. Every stage marked against the time consumed enables you to identify bottlenecks in the operations and take actions backed with accurate data to benefit the organization.
C) Quality Control Report
These are meant for monitoring analyzers’ quality control. With Levey-Jenning chart representation, these types of laboratory reports give you a real-time analysis of the performance of your analyzers. However, it not only keeps you updated about your analyzers’ functioning but is extremely useful for maintaining NABL standards.
D) Inventory Reports
To ensure better control of inventory stock, mainly relative to its consumption, expiry, and future purchases, such LIMS reports are quite impacted towards smooth laboratory handling by pathology lab reporting software.
Mentioned below is one of the highly essential inventory path lab reports that you must look for.
E) Stock Consumption Reports
Based on the tests booked, the best LIMS solution automatically maintains a record of the inventory consumed. The LIMS reports allow you to track and analyze the inventory of all your centers without manual tracking of the items. Further, the real-time information allows you to place an order for the next batch in time to avoid last-minute hassle and gives you full control of any possible leakages.
F) Financial Reports
Recording your laboratory’s end-of-day revenues & collections accurately is crucial for maintaining a healthy financial flow. Errors in manual entry, unexpected delays in collating information, and unavailability of data for immediate action can disrupt the workflow of your laboratory.
Clear and readily available information on the amount of cash collected from every location. A separate log of the due credits sales and a ledger for your business can be of utmost help. Implementing and using an efficient LIMS in your laboratory gives you access to many financial reports. Additionally, this makes it easier to identify, track, and control any possible leakages without spending hours at your desktop.
Some finance reports that can be useful to extract from your LIMS are — billing, bill settlement details, daily collection, pending dues, doctors’ revenue, monthly revenue, and organization-wise collection.
Therefore, to ensure success in the laboratory business, it is imperative to track and analyze all operations at regular intervals. Knowing the advanced types of lab reports that are available and how they can benefit your laboratory processes may come in handy for you to choose a LIMS reporting system that offers all of these.
