A laboratory information system from Isoft will be installed to help Waikato District Health Board in New Zealand to improve the speed, accuracy and reporting of 6.5 million test results a year.
The move provides a single solution for all of Waikato Hospital's pathology services and 190 laboratory staff, but will also be watched closely by other health authorities in New Zealand and Australia that are set to upgrade to modern laboratory systems.
Isoft Laboratory covers all laboratory functions, including anatomical pathology.
Full traceability meets all statutory regulations and provides statistical information on the laboratory's business to enable effective decision making.
Increased productivity and the quicker turnaround of test results also enable faster intervention to improve patient care.
Dr Hugh Goodman, Waikato Hospital's haematologist and pathologist, believes that the laboratory's workflow will be enhanced.
'Clinicians need reliable, timely information from the laboratory and the system will enhance these core functions as well as preparing the ground for future initiatives such as electronic ordering,' he said.
The bulk of Waikato's laboratory services are based at Waikato Hospital.
However, pathology services are also provided at the Thames, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa and Taumarunui rural hospitals.
The Waikato DHB analyses around 600,000 specimens a year, producing 6.5 million test results.
The majority of testing is performed for Waikato Hospital's inpatients and outpatients.
However, a considerable number of laboratory tests are also performed on specimens from community-based patients on behalf of other providers in the Midland area.
The Isoft contract includes support and maintenance for five years, with the solution due to be installed next year.
