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Laboratory Overview in Invent Medical: Test Ordering, Result Tracking & Sample Management

The Laboratory module is designed to bridge the gap between clinical suspicion and diagnostic confirmation. By digitizing the lab workflow, it ensures that test requests are processed accurately, samples are tracked throughout their lifecycle, and results are returned directly to the patient's record for immediate clinical action.

1. Laboratory Overview​

This module facilitates the entire laboratory testing process, from the initial order placed by a clinician during an encounter to the final report delivered to the patient’s file. It is built to maintain high standards of clinical data integrity and to expedite communication between the examination room and the lab.

2. Key Features​

  • Integrated Test Ordering: Clinicians can order lab tests directly from the encounter dashboard, minimizing manual entry errors.
  • Sample Lifecycle Tracking: Track the status of every sample (e.g., Collected, In-Transit, Analyzing, Completed).
  • Automated Result Entry: Results are automatically populated into the patient’s record upon laboratory confirmation.
  • Alerts for Critical Findings: Immediate notifications for clinicians when test results fall outside of normal ranges.
  • Historical Comparison: View side-by-side results of previous and current tests to monitor patient health trends.

3. Typical Workflow​

  1. Ordering: A clinician selects the required laboratory tests within an encounter and issues the electronic order.
  2. Collection: Lab personnel receive the order, collect the sample, and attach a unique system-generated barcode.
  3. Analysis: The sample is analyzed, and the results are recorded into the system.
  4. Reporting: Once verified, the results are pushed directly to the patient's record, triggering a notification for the clinician.
  5. Review: The clinician reviews the findings with the patient during a follow-up or via the patient portal.

4. Screens & Navigation​

  • Lab Orders Queue: The master list of pending, ongoing, and completed test requests.
  • Result Viewer: A comprehensive screen displaying test data, reference ranges, and visual charts for trend analysis.
  • Sample Tracking Dashboard: A specialized view for lab staff to manage current samples by barcode or patient ID.

5. Step-by-Step Usage Guide​

  1. Order Lab Work: In the patient encounter, click "Add Lab Test," select the test panel, and confirm.
  2. Barcode Generation: Once the sample is collected, click "Generate Barcode" to create a label for the specimen.
  3. Update Status: As the lab processes the sample, update the status in the tracker to "In Analysis" or "Completed."
  4. Verify Results: Enter the findings (or import from your laboratory information system), verify for accuracy, and sign off to publish the results to the patient record.

6. Best Practices​

  • Standardize Order Codes: Use a standardized catalog of test codes to ensure reports are generated consistently across the clinic.
  • Timely Verification: Review results as soon as they become available to minimize turnaround times.
  • Secure Specimen Handling: Always verify patient identity against the barcode label before processing any specimen.

7. Frequently Asked Questions​

  • Can I order external lab tests? Yes, the system supports electronic referrals to external laboratories and handles the import of their digital result files.
  • What if a sample is compromised? If a sample is rejected due to poor quality, you can update the status to "Recollect," which automatically notifies the clinician to reorder the test.

8. Troubleshooting​

  • Results not showing in record? Ensure the lab technician has finalized and "published" the results, not just saved them.
  • Barcode scanner not reading? Ensure the label was printed clearly; if the issue persists, manually enter the specimen ID listed beneath the barcode.