Description
“Pathology Informatics involves collecting, examining, reporting and storing large complex sets of data derived from tests performed in clinical laboratories, anatomic pathology laboratories, or research laboratories in order to improve patient care and enhance our understanding of disease-related processes.” Informatics has been an integral part of the practice of pathology since the late 1940s, and laboratory data comprise a huge portion of the overall data in an EHR. Pathology informaticians are not only involved in the implementation and management of laboratory information systems within the pathology and laboratory environments but are also involved in managing laboratory data within EHRs and with enhancing the value of laboratory and clinical data to organizations and providers through advanced analytics. Yet, for many non-pathologist clinical informaticians, the world of pathology informatics, like the laboratory itself, can be a black box where lab test orders and specimens enter, and test results exit.
The purpose of this workshop is to provide clinical informaticians insight into the area of pathology informatics. Topics covered in the workshop include:
-Value provided by the practice of Pathology Informatics
-The scope of practice of Pathology Informatics
-The federal regulatory world in which laboratories operate and how Pathology Informatics helps fulfill those requirements
-The similarities and differences between an Electronic Health Record and a Laboratory Information System
-The emerging areas of genomics, digital pathology and whole-slide imaging
-Data analytics from pathology’s perspective and the emergence of computational pathology.
Participants will gain a better understanding of the value and importance of sound Pathology Informatics practice within their organizations as well as how to better leverage pathology informatics and informaticians to support the broader challenge of safe and efficient patient care throughout a health system.
Describe the new knowledge and additional skills the participant will gain after attending your presentation.: At the end of this 2-hour workshop the learner should be able to:
1. Articulate the definition of pathology informatics and define the role of a pathology informatician both within the lab and at the system-level;
2. Describe the regulatory environment in which labs function and its impact on clinical informatics within the laboratory as well as within the EHR;
3. Define a Laboratory Information System (LIS), explain the differences between a LIS and EHR, and list highly specialized pathology LISs and their unique requirements;
4. Explain how the laboratory utilizes data to promote lab efficiencies, meet regulatory requirements, maintain and improve lab quality, and support safe and efficient patient care; and
5. Describe the growth of genomics and digital pathology and articulate the needs of these areas at the system level.
Authors:
Bruce Levy (Presenter)
Geisinger Health
Alexis Carter, Childrens' Hospital of Atlanta
Presentation Materials: