Clinical Laboratory Ordering System with Embedded Consultation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clinical laboratory systems face challenges in providing convenient and efficient consultative services, as clinicians struggle to interpret complex test results and access longitudinal patient records, leading to difficulties in managing patient care and reimbursement for consultative services.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based system that integrates order entry, data storage, triage, and reporting-consulting subsystems, allowing embedded consultants to generate interpretive reports using disease-specific templates, with access to additional clinical databases and enabling reflexive testing, telephone consultations, and alerts for timely interventions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If laboratory-based consultants are made available for interpretive services, then test result interpretation quality is improved, but access to longitudinal patient records and real-time communication with clinicians deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the consultant's interpretive services with a comprehensive electronic medical record system that includes longitudinal patient records, laboratory results, and clinician communication capabilities. This integration allows consultants to access complete patient histories and communicate with ordering clinicians through the same electronic platform, resolving the contradiction between interpretation quality and information accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electronic medical record system as an intermediary that connects laboratory consultants with clinicians and patient records. This intermediary platform enables consultants to access longitudinal data and communicate with clinicians without requiring direct physical access or separate communication channels, thus improving both interpretation quality and information access.
2Productivity
If consultants are embedded in the laboratory to provide dedicated interpretive services, then consultation availability is improved, but competition with clinicians for patients and independent practice deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the embedded consultant role to perform multiple functions: providing interpretive services, accessing longitudinal patient records, communicating with clinicians, and participating in quality improvement initiatives. This multi-functionality allows consultants to be deeply integrated into the laboratory ecosystem while maintaining versatility in their practice, as they can serve various stakeholders including clinicians, patients, and quality improvement programs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a model where embedded consultants replicate the services of independent practitioners through the electronic medical record system. The system copies and preserves the expertise of consultants within the laboratory infrastructure, allowing them to provide specialized interpretive services without requiring physical independence or the ability to practice separately, thus maintaining both availability and versatility.
3Device complexity
If test results are provided through traditional mailing and faxing methods, then system simplicity is maintained, but result delivery speed and urgency response deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical delivery methods (mailing and faxing) with an electronic digital transmission system. The electronic medical record system enables instant transmission of test results and communications between laboratory and clinician offices, dramatically improving result delivery speed while adding minimal complexity through standardized electronic interfaces and protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary electronic setup of the medical record system and electronic communication channels before test results need to be delivered. This preliminary configuration enables rapid electronic transmission when results are ready, eliminating the need for physical preparation and mailing processes, thus significantly improving delivery speed with minimal operational complexity.
4Ease of operation
If clinicians review test results without structured consultative frameworks, then operational flexibility is maintained, but interpretation accuracy and diagnostic quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the interpretive process into distinct components: automated preliminary analysis, structured consultative frameworks, and clinician review. This segmentation allows the system to provide standardized interpretive guidance that improves accuracy while maintaining operational flexibility, as clinicians can follow structured protocols when needed but remain free to deviate when clinically appropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the interpretive process by introducing structured frameworks that guide clinicians through systematic evaluation of test results. These frameworks modify the approach from ad-hoc review to structured analysis, improving interpretation accuracy while preserving flexibility through configurable parameters that can be adjusted based on specific clinical scenarios and patient characteristics.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for facilitating the provision of clinical laboratory services includes an order entry subsystem for submitting patient test requests to a laboratory by means of a networked terminal, an online data storage subsystem, a triage subsystem for comparing test results with predetermined reference ranges, and a reporting-consulting subsystem for use by an embedded consulting physician to generate a consultative report which is communicated by a networked terminal to the person submitting the test request.