Labs need to improve functionality, security of LIS

2022 02 10 03 12 6159 Computer Data 400

Diagnostic laboratories have significant opportunities to improve the functionality and security of their laboratory information systems (LIS), according to a new report from health information technology company Xifin.

Achieving operational efficiencies throughout the lab is integral for diagnostic providers, requiring an LIS infrastructure that is functional, reliable, interoperable, and highly secure. As the U.S. moves toward an endemic approach to infectious disease, which will continue to drive testing, these survey results highlight significant shortcomings, the company said.

To gather information, including LIS satisfaction, scalability, and security, approximately 100 individuals representing laboratories across the U.S. participated in the survey in 2021. The Xifin survey reported on overall satisfaction with laboratory information systems provided by 18 different technology vendors plus homegrown solutions, the company noted.

Of those who participated in the survey, about 30% indicated dissatisfaction with their LIS's ability to meet their testing needs, and more than 25% reported some level of dissatisfaction with their LIS's management reports.

Overall, respondents were less satisfied with their LIS management reports than with LIS patient reports, according to Xifin's "State of the Industry: Laboratory Information Systems."

Furthermore, 22% of respondents reported being unsure about the security of their organization's LIS, and 2% of respondents didn't know that the system had known security vulnerabilities.

Finally, approximately 40% of respondents indicated that their organization's LIS was either not operating on the most recent software version or they didn't know if they were on the current version, according to the survey results.

"The LIS survey demonstrates that labs need to take a hard look at their LIS and determine if now is the time to expand their technology toolkit," Joe Nollar, assistant vice president of LIS product development at XIFIN, said.

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