TWELFTH ANNUAL LABORATORY INFORMATION SYSTEM SYMPOSIUM ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF PATHOLOGY AND THE OFFICE OF CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN MEDICAL SCHOOL PLENARY CONFERENCE JUNE 8-10, 1994 PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS JUNE 8, 1994 INFORMATION AND BROCHURE: (313) 763-1400 OR (800) 962-3555 COURSE DIRECTOR: BRUCE A. FRIEDMAN, M.D. (friedman@horus.pds.med.umich.edu) GOALS AND ORGANIZATION OF THE SYMPOSIUM Now in its twelfth year, this three-day symposium has been designed to provide a broad overview of current issues relating to the purchase, deployment, and day-to-day management of laboratory information systems (LISs). The symposium is divided into the following five separate, but closely related, components: Five workshops on the first morning of the symposium that provide in-depth analysis of specialized laboratory computing topics Plenary sessions, beginning on the first afternoon, consisting of lectures and panel discussions with a practical emphasis on managing the information product of pathology LIS vendor and consultant displays, allowing hands-on inspection of systems and detailed comparisons of most of the LISs available in the commercial market today Brief introductions by all of the LIS vendors participating in the symposium as well as practical lectures by consultants Demonstrations of cutting-edge PC and related information technology Wednesday, 8 June, 9:00-12:00 noon (Workshops) I. New Solutions for New Challenges: Lecture Demonstrations by Laboratory and Vendor Partners Explanatory note: This workshop is being offered for the first time this year on a test basis. It will consist of three LIS laboratory/vendor pairs demonstrating newly developed products and applications deployed in the client sites, often in an alpha or beta mode. All vendors participating in the symposium have been presented with the opportunity to submit a proposal to participate in the workshop. The three pairs below have been selected on the basis of general interest and applicability of the material as paradigms for future laboratory computing. If this new workshop is well-received by registrants, it will become a permanent feature of the conference. Creating a True Multi-Site Hybrid Clinical Laboratory Environment Centrex Clinical Laboratories, New Hartford, New York. SCC/Soft Computer Consultants, Clearwater, Florida Integrating an Anatomic Pathology Information System in a Multi-Hospital Practice Mercy Hospital, Toledo, Ohio; Mercy Hospital, Tiffin, Ohio; St. Charles Hospital, Oregon, Ohio; and Pathology Laboratories, Inc., Toledo, Ohio Collaborative Medical Systems, Waltham, Massachusetts Interoperability and the LIS: An Open System Solution Using Relational Database Technology The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio CHC Corp.., Houston, Texas 100 registrants II. Fundamentals of Computing and the Laboratory Information Systems The task of selecting and deploying a laboratory information system is sometimes delegated to laboratory professionals with limited experience in selecting and managing information systems. It is for such laboratory personnel that this workshop is designed and presented by a professional LIS consultant with a demonstrated ability to present basic concepts and build on this knowledge. This workshop will prepare the registrants to interact more knowledgeably with vendor representatives at the conference and also better understand information provided by speakers during the plenary sessions. The workshop will start at a very basic level, defining both the fundamental hardware and software components of an LIS. Discussion will then proceed to a discussion of more complex software and hardware topics as well as new technology. The various functions of an LIS will be presented in the context of the mission of a hospital or independent clinical laboratory. These system and functionality concepts will be then drawn upon to present a basic strategy for selecting an LIS which meets the needs of both the hospital personnel who manage it and also the end-users of the information system. Finally, suggestions will be made about how to hold informed discussions with the vendors at the meeting as well as what type of questions to ask them about their products. Faculty: Dennis Winsten III. Adding Value to a Laboratory Information System with PC and Networking Technology LIS personnel may discover that the vendor of their turnkey system is unwilling or unable to provide solutions for some of their most pressing problems, or that the solutions offered by the vendor are prohibitively expensive. In such a setting, they will often turn to PC and networking technology as a means for inputting information into their systems (e.g., speech recognition, wireless transmission of point-of-care test results ) or as a means to modify or communicate test results (e.g., spreadsheet formatting of test results, database navigation with hypermedia software, faxing laboratory reports to clients). Deployment of such innovative and cost-effective solutions do not necessarily require a PC development team in-house -- local value-added resellers (VARs) in the community are often willing to modify PC hardware and software to meet the specialized needs of laboratory clients. The goal of this workshop is to discuss in detail the integration of PC and network technology into the day-to-day operations of an LIS unit. The faculty members will open the workshop by presenting the basic concept that PCs and network technology can be deployed to create an innovative and flexible environment around a turnkey LIS. They will then present a list of strategic problems facing LIS personnel on a daily basis linked with suggestions of PC solutions to the problems. Finally, several demonstrations of PC-based and network solutions will be shown that are currently operating in the University of Michigan Hospitals.. Note that the faculty workshop faculty will also be presenting the information technology demonstrations during the plenary sessions, so that this workshop and these later demonstrations should be viewed as closely related. Faculty: James A. Dignan, Thomas D. Morrow, MSA and Tom Peterson, MT (ASCP) IV. LIS Policy and Procedure Development This workshop will focus on strategies for the development of policies and procedures necessary to implement and effectively manage an LIS. Written policies and procedures are a prerequisite for laboratory accreditation, and this requirement remains constant whether an LIS is being installed for the first time or an existing LIS is being upgraded. The workshop will begin with a rapid overview of which written policies and procedures are necessary for accreditation purposes. A detailed analysis of the standards of various inspection and accreditation agencies such as JCAHO, CAP, AABB, and FDA will follow. Special attention will be paid to specific topic areas such as system "down" scenarios, disaster plans, change control procedures, confidentiality and security policies, and problem resolution responsibilities. Other areas to be covered will include the process of policy and procedure writing and implementation. Specific examples of hospital LIS policies will be distributed to registrants as part of the workshop. Faculty: Jean H. Hengesbaugh, MS V. Evaluating and Contracting for a Laboratory Information System: A Well-Planned Process Can Make a Difference This workshop is designed for registrants who may be contemplating the purchase of a new LIS, including first-time buyers as well as those searching for a replacement system. The risk associated with a wrong decision is greater today than ever before. A successful installation ten years ago is no guarantee of success today since many of the players and most of the rules have changed dramatically. The process of evaluating laboratory computer systems and contracting with the chosen vendor must be well-structured so all major issues are covered. A good contract cannot make up for a shallow investigation of the product. A perfect needs-analysis will also not guarantee a successful installation. Before any vendors are contacted or the first requirement is documented, individuals and departments throughout the facility must agree on a plan of action that they believe will address all critical issues including which vendor is best as well as numerous contract terms and conditions. Without such a plan, agreed to in writing, a great deal of time can be wasted later arguing about how to make the decision. This workshop will cover important aspects of system selection and contract negotiation. A step by step selection methodology will be described which takes into account evaluation of product functionality as well as associated contract issues. Because the impact of a new or replacement LIS extends throughout the institution, particular attention will be paid to involvement of individuals and units outside the laboratory. What role should nursing or the medical staff play? How does the LIS project team relate to the hospital or clinical information system steering committee? The faculty for this workshop will consist of a computer consultant and an attorney who have had extensive experience consulting with clients on needs analysis; the selection of vendors; the acquisition, installation, integration, testing and support of information systems; the structuring of contracts relating to such systems; and the development of successful business relationships. Faculty: Gary F. Braley and Susan M. Kornfield, JD Wednesday, June 8, Afternoon 12:30 Registration 1:00 Conference Welcome and Announcements R. Van Harrison, PhD 1:10 Goals and Organization of the Symposium Bruce A. Friedman, MD 1:15 Introduction to the CAP Today Focus Session Michael Weilert, M.D. 1:30 HIS/LIS Relations: The Pathologist's Perspective Raymond D. Aller, M.D. 2:10 HIS/LIS Relations: The CIO's Perspective John P. Glaser, PhD 2:50 Question and Answer Panel 3:00 Refreshments and Vendor Displays 3:30 Vendor Introductions 3:30 Information Technology Demonstrations (Concurrent Session) 5:00- Beverages and Light Buffet 6:00- LIS Consultant Lectures Integration and Optimization of an LIS in a Complex Computing Environment Dennis Winsten Dennis Winsten & Associates Integrated Planning: A Critical First Step Towards Integrated Systems Gary F. Braley Braley Consulting Services, Inc. 7:30 Session Adjourns Thursday Morning, June 9 8:00 Continental Breakfast 8:30 Autoverification of Test Results in the Chemical Pathology Laboratory Stephen M. Gendler, PhD 9:10 Automating the Quality of Your Laboratory Information System Michael Weilert, MD 9:50 Question and Answer Panel 10:00 Refreshments and Vendor Displays 10:30 Vendor Introductions (cont.) 10:30 Information Technology Demonstrations (cont.) 12:00 Luncheon Thursday Afternoon, June 9 1:00 Healthcare Reform: Implications for the Information Manager in the Clinical Laboratory Bruce A. Friedman, MD 1:50 Question and Answer Panel 2:00 Executive Officer Roundup (A Round-table Discussion about Trends and Strategies in Laboratory and Healthcare Computing) Jack Arthur General Manager, SMS Laboratory Products Division Steven M. Besbeck President and CEO, Creative Computer Applications, Inc.