Centralized Reference Laboratory Network for Code Update Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clinical reference laboratory testing processes are inefficient and error-prone due to manual handling of specimen requests and result reporting, lack of centralized mapping, and frequent code changes by reference laboratories, leading to difficulties in determining appropriate laboratories and maintaining accurate interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A centralized reference laboratory network that facilitates communication between physician offices and laboratories through a computer system with a processor and software components for mapping procedures, managing updates, and modifying laboratory connections, including graphical user interfaces for searching, ordering, and updating procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual processes are used for requesting and reporting reference laboratory testing, then flexibility in handling diverse laboratory interfaces is maintained, but the process becomes tedious, inefficient, and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system that acts as a mediator between healthcare providers and reference laboratories. This system receives testing requests, automatically determines appropriate laboratories based on maintained information about testing capabilities and insurance acceptance, and facilitates result reporting. The intermediary eliminates manual review processes while ensuring accurate matching of patients with appropriate laboratories, thereby improving both ease of operation and reliability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If individual interfaces are required for each reference laboratory, then specific laboratory requirements can be met, but the complexity of maintaining alias maps increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal interface system that can communicate with multiple different reference laboratories through a single standardized approach. The system maintains centralized information about various laboratories' testing capabilities and uses this information to automatically route requests appropriately. This universal interface eliminates the need for maintaining separate alias maps for each laboratory, reducing complexity while preserving the ability to adapt to different laboratory requirements through centralized configuration.
3Measurement precision
If reference laboratories frequently change codes associated with tests, then testing accuracy can be improved, but the effort to maintain accurate alias maps increases time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system automatically receives and processes code change notifications from reference laboratories. When code changes occur, the system is notified and automatically updates its internal mappings and alias maps. This feedback loop ensures that the system maintains accurate test coding information without requiring manual intervention, thereby preserving measurement precision while eliminating the time loss associated with manual map maintenance.
4Ease of operation
If results reporting is done through manual processes such as mailing, faxing, emailing, or phoning, then flexibility in communication methods is maintained, but opportunities for miscommunication increase and timeliness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical reporting processes (mailing, faxing, emailing, phoning) with an automated electronic system. The intermediary system electronically transmits test results directly from reference laboratories to healthcare providers through standardized interfaces. This substitution eliminates human error in transcription and communication while maintaining flexibility through automated routing based on the centralized information about appropriate recipients and methods, thereby improving both accuracy and timeliness.
Data Source
AI summary
Computerized systems, methods, and graphical user interfaces are provided to facilitate communication between physician offices and reference laboratories. A reference laboratory content manager provides a centralized conduit for interfacing clients placing orders for reference laboratory testing and reference laboratories performing testing. The reference laboratory content manager leverages centralized mapping across organizations by managing associations for procedures between reference laboratory aliases and client aliases. The centralized mapping enables the reference laboratory content manager to manage updates from reference laboratories and facilitate clients wishing to modify utilization of reference laboratories.