LII:The Comprehensive Guide to Physician Office Laboratory Setup and Operation/Introduction
Introduction
This guide attempts to take what was discussed in the The Practical Guide to the U.S. Physician Office Laboratory white paper and expand upon it and the topic of the physician office laboratory (POL).
Where the white paper was largely created to assist the reader with the decision-making processes related to becoming affiliated with a POL, this guide provides a more in-depth discussion of the clinical environment, testing domains, and data management, as well as including POL-friendly vendor and distributor information. Before continuing, you may benefit from looking at the following:
- Physician office laboratory
- The Practical Guide to the U.S. Physician Office Laboratory
- Health Information Technology for the Physician Office Laboratory
No recommendations are explicitly made, though appropriate best practices are mentioned.
About the Laboratory Informatics Institute
The goal of the Laboratory Informatics Institute (LII) is to offer an open membership program to all individuals and organizations, which service or are employed within the laboratory industry. The LII's mission is to help all laboratories become more efficient and automated through the adoption of laboratory informatics applications and systems. By establishing an open trade association, members of the LII help shape and direct future laboratory informatics standards. Our members help educate and inform other members, and the LII will provide tools and resources to help all laboratories adopt a level of knowledge that is right for them.
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the most popular instruments, products, and other supplies for the POL and their price range?
2. Where do I go to get help with my POL?
This guide has listings for consultants, vendors, and other professionals that service the POL market. This list has been compiled from publicly available information, and it is included here as a resource for people who need help with their POL. If you still need assistance, reach out to the Laboratory Informatics Institute. We will assist you or help you with finding the appropriate professional.
3. How do I best use this guide?
The content of this guide is meant to be read as a whole, but a single section may have all the content a reader needs. If you desire to read a particular section, use the chapter list below to find what you are looking for. The directories are included as an added resources.
4. How do I update my listing in this guide?
To update your listing in the guide please feel free to contact us. We try to keep the listings current but also understand that information changes.
5. My question isn’t covered here, now what?
If your question isn't covered somewhere in our FAQ, please contact us.
Table of contents
- The clinical laboratory and its equipment
- Good laboratory practice
- Laboratory safety
- Regulatory compliance: HIPAA and PPACA
- Regulatory compliance: CLIA
- Point-of-care testing
- Provider performed microscopy testing
- CLIA market
- Industry trends
- Economic issues related to the POL
- Data management
2. Primary Laboratory Testing Domains in the POL
- Urinalysis
- Hematology/Blood collection
- Chemistry
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Toxicology
3. Secondary Laboratory Testing Domains in the POL
- Pathology
- Pain management
- Molecular diagnostics
- Functional requirements
- Workflow and integration (EHR, HIS)
- Workflow and integration instruments
- LIS as a center of workflow/full office integration
- LIS relationship to other IT systems
- Best practices and standard operating procedures
- Other workflow requirements
5. Staffing and Education Requirements
- General staffing and education
- List of certification programs
- List of organizations and professional certifications
- List of educational programs
- List of staffing agencies
- Further reading
- List of POL instrument vendors and manufacturers
- List of other POL vendors, not covered elsewhere
- List of distributors
- List of consultants in the POL market
- List of consumables and supplies used in POL
- List of suppliers
- Laboratory billing
