How many ways are there to commit human error in diagnostic laboratory-related patient processes? Clearly, the numbers are daunting. A 2006 study cited in the Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine suggests that annually, more than 160,000 adverse events result from the misidentification of patients' laboratory specimens. A 2006 study found an astonishing 5.8% of phlebotomy samples are mislabeled.

For the sake of patients' safety and quality of care, how can your laboratory get these kinds of numbers down to zero?

Eliminating errors in labeling and routing—and alerting staff to safety concerns

At the core of Sunquest's LIS is a focus on optimizing processes—and removing the potential for human error. Redundant steps that may result in errors are eliminated. Positive Patient ID (PPID)applications eliminate errors at the point of collection. These bar-coded identifiers are available in whatever form your specimens are found, including containers, microbiology plates and pathology slides. Sunquest's technology makes paper collection lists and lost specimens a thing of the past. You can use your LIS to route and track samples from the initial order to sample storage and disposition.

Automation is a vital part of Sunquest's Laboratory system, both in alerting staff to potential safety concerns, and in improving the efficiency of your operations. Real-time QA checks will automatically alert technologists when a result exceeds your patient quality assurance ranges. Your lab operations can be configured to autoverify results that meet your criteria—so your time-pressed staff can give their full attention to outliers. And when critical results emerge, your staff will be alerted to get the information speedily into the right hands.

Please follow the links on the left, or contact us at sales@sunquestinfo.com to learn more about our solutions can help your organization exceed your patient safety goals.  And, click here to read Sunquest's industry-leading initiative on the Five Rights of Laboratory Testing™.