Products Laboratory Specimen Collection System (LSMS)

Laboratory Specimen Collection System

For patients, specimen collection errors during the pre-analytical phase can lead to medication errors, inappropriate or delayed therapy, missed therapy, possibly prolonged hospital stays, increased disability or worse.

For the hospital concerned, specimen collection errors can have a major negative impact on finances, as measured in time spent tracking and correcting errors, performing re-draws or repeat testing, as well as the costs associated with unnecessary treatment. The laboratory plays a critical role in creating and reducing clinically significant errors.

Cicada's LSMS is an essential laboratory workflow component that integrates seamlessly with the resident Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) of the hospital to facilitate specimen collection by nurses, phlebotomists and doctors. The LSMS comes with its own user-centric designed Clinician Order Entry system or it can be integrated into the existing Order Entry system. LSMS is a focused laboratory order and specimen collection software system which supports applications used by doctors, nurses and phlebotomists, specifically for the ordering and management of laboratory samples. LSMS facilitates the complete automation of the laboratory ordering process, from the point of physician-patient contact until sample delivery to the laboratory, through the integration of a novel software solution and physical output devices consisting of wireless hand-held devices and remote mobile printers. Successful implementation of LSMS will result in a unique blend of technology which will ensure that laboratories receive complete electronic laboratory orders and pre-labeled sample tubes which are ready for direct analyzer placement. LSMS also integrates seamlessly with the healthcare facility?s electronic medical records and laboratory information systems. One of the greatest benefits of the solutions is the efficient flow of real-time information that is critical to implementing effective and safe treatment plans.

Cicada's LSMS will enable the attending clinician (doctor or phlebotomist) to perform an electronic test order which will interface and integrate with the resident LIMS. Cicada?s LSMS will collect and sort these test requests and present them to the nurses/phlebotomists as meaningful information to carry out their duties effectively and productively. As the patient appears at the specimen collection (blood, urine, stool, mouth swab) station, the LSMS will facilitate the right tests for the right patient by ensuring that there is synchronicity between patient ID and tests ordered. LSMS is configured as a "closed loop" system, customized and designed to specifically maximize the efficiency of the specimen collection process, while eliminating any opportunity for error. The illustration below describes the workflow of the LSMS as compared to most current typical workflows.

Features:

• Modular design

• Operating system independent

• Seamless integration with current infrastructure

• Interoperability based on international standards (HL 7, ICD-9, SNOMED-CT)

• User-centric

Benefits:

• Bedside pathology ordering by doctors and nurse practitioners for hospital patients

• Robust positive-patient identification

• Bedside phlebotomy management and order entry

• Electronic linkages between LSMS and the LIS (Laboratory Information System) using HL7 bi-directional communication standards

• The savings in time and associated costs arising from the use of LSMS can be categorized into the following areas:

  • Labor savings in collection and receipt process equivalent to at least 2 FTEs (full-time equivalents)

  • Label and material savings due to label errors resulting in multiple sticks

  • Labor time associated with handling lost or misplaced samples

  • Labor time associated with identifying or correcting errors

  • Management of time in corrective action, interviews, and reports