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Laboratories that use data analytics platforms must also train their staff on how to communicate the parameters of the information the lab needs, Dr. McClintock says. “Just saying to someone, ‘I need a turnaround time report’ doesn’t work. Turnaround time for what parameters? You have to be able to detail what you really need and how you plan to use it—and put it into a concrete form business analysts can use.” This may require assigning a laboratorian with an understanding of lab informatics to translate the laboratory’s data requirements for the IT team.

To increase the value of data analytics, labs need to move beyond analyzing descriptive data to analyzing why things happen and, eventually, to predicting what is likely to happen and how to achieve certain outcomes, Dr. McClintock says. From a clinical perspective, he notes, it’s all about determining what data can be accessed and “what combinations we can put together to make better predictions. Everything that we are trying to do right now is a product of wanting to use our data to drive our experiences.”

To this end, Dr. McClintock cites as an example how it is more valuable for laboratories and health care systems to analyze why patients become septic than report their number of septic patients. “Further,” he says, “the power of analytics becomes more readily apparent when we can predict which patients will become septic or to change clinical practices to prevent patients from becoming septic.” However, predictive and prescriptive analytics used for such purposes as determining how to prevent medical conditions require more sophisticated algorithms. They also necessitate accessing data from outside the lab, such as nursing data, physician notes, and other clinical information. “Therefore,” Dr. McClintock says, “transitioning from descriptive analytics to more predictive and prescriptive analytics will be a big jump for many institutions.”

At least as daunting as determining how to use the data effectively is how to manage it safely, Dr. Reineks says. The Cleveland Clinic tracks every person who accesses data for analytics projects and how they use it, he notes. Furthermore, analytics and other research projects that require large data sets must receive institutional review board approval.

Even though this process may constrain or delay data analytics projects, he says, “there is good reason for it, and that is something that people need to keep in mind.” —Renee Caruthers

Sunquest introduces integrated AP and molecular reporting

Sunquest can now display ancillary molecular testing results in anatomic pathology reports generated by the Sunquest PowerPath and Sunquest CoPathPlus AP lab information systems.

Using the Sunquest Mitogen molecular and genetics laboratory information management system and Sunquest Vue visualization and reporting software, pathologists can send molecular testing results to either of the company’s AP systems to generate comprehensive reports.

Sunquest, 877-239-6337

Proscia and Ibex team up on software for prostate cancer

Proscia and Ibex Medical Analytics are collaborating on software that powers artificial intelligence-enabled workflows for prostate cancer diagnosis.

The partnership is focused on integrating Ibex’s Galen Prostate solution and Proscia’s Concentriq image- and data-management platform to bring AI-powered triaging, cancer detection, and grading of prostate core needle biopsies into routine workflows.

Galen Prostate provides real-time quality control by alerting pathologists to misdiagnosed and misgraded cancers. Concentriq is used for routine image viewing, management, and analysis and serves as a launch pad for computational applications.

The integrated solution will make Galen Prostate available to Concentriq users, beginning with select customers in the United States and Europe.

Proscia, 877-255-1341

Interpace Biosciences and Xifin extend partnership

Interpace Biosciences, a molecular testing company focused on cancer diagnosis and risk, announced that it will deploy Xifin’s Xifin RPM 12 revenue cycle-management solution enterprisewide to support its billing operations. The agreement continues a partnership between the two organizations that was forged in 2019.

The cloud-based Xifin RPM 12 solution automates the end-to-end RCM process and provides actionable insights through advanced analytics.

Xifin, 866-934-6364

LigoLab RCM tool addresses financial projections

The LigoLab LIS & RCM operating platform provides an automated accounts receivable payer projection tool for financial forecasting.

The functionality is a real-time interface that connects payers that are enrolled in electronic funds transfer with LigoLab’s revenue cycle-management module to automatically tag corresponding issue dates and posting dates and compile them into a dashboard that’s updated continuously.

LigoLab, 818-395-4659

Dr. Aller practices clinical informatics in Southern California. He can be reached at raller@usc.edu. Dennis Winsten is founder of Dennis Winsten & Associates, Healthcare Systems Consultants. He can be reached at dwinsten.az@gmail.com.