Medical Device Link.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Randy Turner is the commercial operations and global marketing director at bioMérieux (Hazelwood, MO). He can be reached at randy.turner@ na.biomerieux.com.

The dwindling number of clinical microbiologists is one fact that the IVD industry cannot ignore. A recent study found that between 1983 and 1999, enrollment in medical technology training programs declined 38% in the United States, and during that same period, 57% of medical technology schools closed their doors. But even though about 40% of today’s laboratory professionals will be eligible to retire between 2005 and 2010, the introduction of more automation into the laboratory can begin to combat this loss of real-world experience.

In order to maintain and improve established levels of care, it is important that healthcare facilities consider options to integrate automation and information management systems and eliminate preventable medical errors.

Automation optimizes a laboratory’s functioning, effectiveness, and accuracy. Through a results-driven approach, automation can boost laboratory’s standing in the healthcare decision-making process, allowing quality information to be communicated to clinicians while saving time, money, and lives.

Automation also allows medical technologists to spend more time on difficult cases that require careful analysis and assessment. Delivering relevant data in a timely manner guarantees the laboratory’s ongoing status as a key component and revenue-generating source in the healthcare system.

The need for automation is growing, and the benefits are substantial. Nevertheless, automating a laboratory is a significant undertaking and requires dedication and preparation.

Efficiency and Quality

An Institute of Medicine report estimates that medical errors cost the United States about $37.6 billion each year. Approximately $17 billion of those costs are associated with preventable errors, and about half of the expenditures for preventable medical errors are for direct healthcare costs.

While throughput and turnaround are valid measures of a laboratory’s success, they should not be the sole element in the equation. The quality of the data produced plays a vital role in attaining success in the medical community. A critical method for healthcare providers to reduce adverse events associated with medication errors is to focus on ways of improving the systems of delivering care.

In terms of increasing patient safety and decreasing medical errors, automation eliminates many manual, redundant tasks, significantly reducing opportunities for human error. By delivering timely results, providing instant notifications, and sounding alarms to identify errors, automation ensures that the information generated by the laboratory is accurate and relevant to the decision-making process. Improvement is realized by reducing tedium in the laboratory. Professionals have the time to apply their knowledge to areas demanding skilled interpretation or evaluation.

Automation can also increase laboratory functionality. Streamlining processes and minimizing the tasks that rely on human interface make the transition to an around-the-clock laboratory a reality. Operating in this manner increases the laboratory’s contribution to patient care because result availability is no longer ruled by the time of day a sample is collected or the number of medical technologists working a shift.

Several published studies demonstrate the positive impact that automation can have on patient outcomes and a hospital’s financial standing. But even though technological processes in the healthcare field continue to advance, gaining acceptance of such new systems continues to be a challenge. Successful integration of automation and information systems depends on support and acceptance not only by laboratories, but also by physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

While work loads continue to increase, new technologies to meet evolving laboratory testing needs are being developed. Automation is a trend being observed in the microbiology segment of the IVD market. Researchers are examining how best to monitor, detect, and measure the threats of infectious disease and bioterrorism by developing new laboratory automation and information systems.

Patient safety is the priority and requires the continued collaboration of all participants. It is imperative for the IVD industry to help microbiology labs embrace automation, freeing medical technologists to direct their experience and education toward work that immediately affects clinical decisions and saves lives.

A well-managed, properly automated lab can meet future demands in more effective and dynamic ways. With the right preparation, automation can transform a traditional laboratory into a modern and safe environment.