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Integrated technology captures profitability in lab outreach

Front-end technology for outreach laboratories Back-end technology for outreach laboratories

For clients still using a manual paper system for order/results, When laboratory providers examine the back-end process
laboratory providers need to offer a Web portal for during the selection of a laboratory accounts receivable (AR)
order/results that is connected to their client’s practice system, all too often the technology ends up in a comparison
management system. This also covers the challenge of of the advantages and disadvantages, as compared to
updating patient/insurance demographics and medical a hospital information system (HIS).
necessity checking on the front-end.
The HIS, which is designed to work in an inpatient/outpatient
For clients that have—or will be implementing—an electronic environment, is frequently selected because it’s already in
medical record, laboratory providers must be able to connect place and seems easier to deploy with the infrastructure
within the client’s timeframe and still be able to update current that’s already operational.
patient/insurance demographics and medical necessity
checking on the front-end. At first glance, this appears to have a clear advantage over
selecting, purchasing, implementing, and maintaining
Often considered optional—but well worth having in a separate laboratory AR system.
place—is a courier tracking and supply management
system to generate operational efficiencies and It’s important to realize, however, that the tangible
maintain transparency. benefits of operating a separate AR system is wired into
the front-end process of the laboratory, the flexibility of
The advantages of front-end technology are well understood setup (which drives automation), and rules-based
by laboratory management; however, for some, it remains just workflows.
out of reach for now, serving as a reminder that the laboratory
may be viewed more as a traditional cost center rather than
as a revenue generating profit center.