Challenges Faced By Medical Laboratories Information Technology Essay

Ch onlyenges Faced By Medical Laboratories In practiceation Technology Essay health care is always a top priority within any collection of individuals, whether it is the workforce, schools, churches, communities, states, countries etc. This is beca practice mortality evaluate are directly affected by the level of healthcare lendable, and effective productivity is dependent on good health and high mortality rates.Developed nations tend to invest large sums of money into healthcare, in order to prevent most ailments before they be survey epidemics, however, due to lack of emphasis on the greatness of healthcare, African nations suffer from low mortality rates caused by lack of befitting leavening ground procedures and equipment, to assay and accurately diagnose problems ahead of time.Even though we are now in a extremely advanced technological era, Nigerian hospitals still conduct mental tests, entropy collection, and calculations manually, leaving a huge interruption for e rrors which could lead to wrong diagnosing and in turn, wrong treatment.As we gentlemans become ever progressively dependent on computer technology in our daily lives, it then would be appropriate to hold technological solutions to problems conventional methods prove inefficient at.These problems can be solved with the use of a decent tack software governing body to manage all administrative tasks in the laboratories.The most effective use of technology to solve to these issues would be carried out using open start software popularly cognise as a Laboratory instruction System (L.I.M.S).The model of this work noticeks to provide an application which forget enable vital leadalities such as proper documentation and storage of tolerant information, diligent specimen/sample tracking, and most important, patient test settlements.In the light of the above, the proposed trunk applies the network application phylogenesis approach in its discipline architecture and proc essing, however this system of rules get out run on a local machine as opposed to running on a remote server everywhere the internet. Consequently at completion of this work, the end product should be a Laboratory information counselling system which handles activities in the lab from the entry of a patient to the research research lab to the generating of a test result or Laboratory report.BACKGROUND OF STUDYThe adopt for the developing of the science science laboratory information worry system uses a aesculapian laboratory installing Bakor Medical laboratory as its case study.investigations indicate that the following steps or procedures are undertaken in the process of getting tested in the checkup laboratory.On entry into the laboratory a document know as the persevering Investigation form. This form holds information such as the Patients name, age sex, on option this form the patient is then billed.The patient Investigation form is then transferred to a second la boratory attendant who then uses the information retrieved from the aforementioned form to fill the laboratory request book.STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMIn recent times, due to increase in population, there is constant pressure on providers of various services to provide innovative methods of dispensing a sinewy amount of services to great amount of people in the shortest possible time. Consequently, organizations are constantly resorting to technological solutions to meet up with the ever increasing demand for quality and speedy service delivery and with approximately everything in our day to day lives being technologically driven, should there non be a scenario where root documentation is completely annihilated from medical laboratories?, where a system is adopted in which patient records and data are properly stored such as to enable features such as patient/visitor memoir tracker, where a returning patients hi boloney can championshiper the laboratory in deducing what type of test a visitor would request for, statistical reports generation where useful statistical information is inferred ground on test results e.g whether or not there is an increase or decrease of new HIV infections, should there not be a software/application where other stakeholders in the health-care delivery processes such as doctors and pharmacists incur access to laboratory generated information to aid in their health-care administration?, should the retrieval of patient test records be slow and cumbersome?, why must results be entered directly on the result document, therefrom a backup copy is unavailable. Questions such as these volition serve as a guide to the development of a fertile system than manages various tasks in the medical laboratory.1.3 RESEARCH QUESTIONSBased on the disputation of the problems above the research question for this study areHow will the development of a laboratory information management System greatly increase the laboratorys efficiency?OBJECTIVE OF STUDYTo design a robust Laboratory information System that will efficiently aid in the running of the laboratory facilityTo hold and provide timely information about each visitor to the laboratoryTo annul the take away to hire staff through the proper application of technological solutions therefore cutting cost.With a proper functioning and comprehensively designed application, Laboratory tasks such the following can be achievedSAMPLES MANAGEMENTA LIMS can automate the management of samples. An organization can configure its analytical parameters and calculations into the LIMS before implementing the software in the laboratory. After sample adaption, the system can print barcodes which it can scan at the end of the psychoanalysis when loading results into the LIMS. The system can check the completed results, automatically validating those which comply with specifications and reporting (but not validating) out-of-specification results. A LIMS may release or retain lots and ba tches, according to a laboratorys specifications and calculations.Once results come available for the labs clients or owners, they can extract them inPDF, XMLor spreadsheet files from the LIMS interface. (Note that moving insufficient data to a spreadsheet may lose the traceability of changes).LABORATORY USERSOne may configure a LIMS for use by an untrammelednumber of users. Each user owns an interface, protected by security mechanisms such as a login and a password. Users may have customized interfaces. A laboratory manager might have full access to all of a LIMS functions, whereas technicians might have access only to functionality needed for their individual work-tasks.ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS AUTOMATIONAs of 2009LIMS implementations can manage laboratory sampling, consumables sampling schedule and financial (invoices).SCOPE OF STUDYBakor Medical center of attention has various de fictitious characterments and sections based on the issue at hand to be dealt with however this study focuses primarily on the lab processes, including data collection and management.This study takes the patient from the moment of entry into the medical centre, filling forms, up till the moment the test is taken, from that point onwards the study will focus on the methods used by the laboratory attendant to collect and store data, through recording of findings and submission of resultsThis study will also concentrate on data backup and retrieval methods and will highlight latent errors and problems that could be encountered if the entire process was carried out manually instead of using a well configured computer application.SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDYThe Computer based Laboratory information management System is instead desirable as it will benefit the laboratory in the area of repetitive task automation. It will serve as an assistant to the medical laboratory scientist. It will also benefit patients as they will be able to retrieve record from previous visits to the laboratory.LIMITAT IONS OF STUDYThe limitations of this study includeInability to arrive actual test result document, as this goes against medical ethics for a third party to conniption Laboratory specimen or test results.Unavailability of qualified laboratory scientist at the study locations to properly explain terms and laboratory procedures.LITERATURE REVIEWFrom tasting urine to microscopy to molecular testing, the sophistication of diagnostic techniques has come a retentive way and continues to develop at breakneck speed. The history of the laboratory is the story of medications evolution from empirical to experimental techniques and proves that the clinical lab is the true source of medical authority.Three straightforward periods in the history of medicine are associated with three different places and therefore different methods of determining diagnosis From the middle ages to the 18th century, bedside medicine was prevalent then between 1794 and 1848 came hospital medicine and from that t ime forward, laboratory medicine has served as medicines lodestar. The laboratorys contribution to modern medicine has only recently been recognized by historians as something more than the addition of another resource to medical science and is now being appreciated as the seat of medicine, where clinicians account for what they observe in their patients.The first medical diagnoses make by humans were based on what antediluvian patriarch physicians could observe with their eyes and ears, which sometimes also included the examination of human specimens. The ancient Greeks attributed all unhealthiness to disorders of bodily precariouss called humors, and during the late medieval period, doctors routinely coifed uroscopy. Later, the microscope revealed not only the cellular anatomical structure of human tissue, but also the organisms that cause unsoundness. More sophisticated diagnostic tools and techniques such as the thermometer for touchstone temperature and the stethoscope for measuring heart rate were not in widespread use until the end of the 19th century. The clinical laboratory would not become a standard fixture of medicine until the radical of the 20th century. antiquated diagnostic methodsIn ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the earliest physicians made diagnoses and recommended treatments based primarily on observation of clinical symptoms. Palpation and auscultation were also used. Physicians were able to describe dysfunctions of the digestive tract, heart and circulation, the liver and spleen, and menstrual disturbances unfortunately, this empiric medicine was reserved for royalty and the wealthy.Other less-than-scientific methods of diagnosis used in treating the middle and lower classes included fortune telling through ritual sacrifice to predict the outcome of illness. Usually a sheep would be killed before the statue of a god. Its liver was examined for malformations or peculiarities the shape of the lobes and the orientation of the commo n duct were then used to predict the raft of the patient.Ancient physicians also began the practice of examining patient specimens. The oldest known test on body fluids was done on urine in ancient times (before 400 BC). Urine was poured on the ground and observed to see whether it attracted insects. If it did, patients were diagnosed with boils.The ancient Greeks also saw the value in examining body fluids to predict infirmity. At round ccc BC, Hippocrates promoted the use of the mind and senses as diagnostic tools, a principle that played a large part in his reputation as the Father of Medicine. The central Hippocratic doctrine of humoral pathology attributed all disease to disorders of fluids of the body. To obtain a clear picture of disease, Hippocrates advocated a diagnostic protocol that included tasting the patients urine, audition to the lungs, and observing skin color and other outward appearances. Beyond that, the physician was to understand the patient as an individua l. Hippocrates think the appearance of bubbles on the surface of urine specimens to kidney disease and chronic illness. He also related certain urine sediments and wrinkle and pus in urine to disease. The first description of hematuria or the presence of blood in urine, by Rufus of Ephesus surfaced at around AD 50 and was attributed to the failure of kidneys to function properly in filtering the blood.Later (c. AD 180), Galen (AD 131-201), who is recognized as the founder of experimental physiology, created a system of pathology that combined Hippocrates humoral theories with the Pythagorean theory, which held that the four elements (earth, air, fire, and water), corresponded to various combinations of the physiologic qualifies of dry, cold, hot, and wet. These combinations of physiologic characteristics corresponded roughly to the four humors of the human body hot moist = blood hot dry = yellow bile cold moist = phlegm and cold dry = black bile. Galen was known for explaining ev erything in light of his theory and for having an explanation for everything. He also described diabetes as diarrhea of urine and noted the normal relationship between fluid intake and urine volume. His unwavering belief in his own infallibility appealed to complacency and reverence for authority. That dogmatism fundamentally brought innovation and discovery in European medicine to a standstill for nearly 14 centuries. Anything relating to anatomy, physiology, and disease was simply referred back to Galen as the final authority from whom there could be no appeal.Middle AgesIn medieval Europe, early Christians believed that disease was either punishment for sin or the result of witchcraft or possession. Diagnosis was superfluous. The basic therapy was prayer, penitence, and invocation of saints. Lay medicine based diagnosis on symptoms, examination, pulse, palpitation, percussion, and inspection of excretion and sometimes semen. Diagnosis by water casting (uroscopy) was practiced, a nd the urine flask became the emblem of medieval medicine. By AD 900, Isaac Judaeus, a Jewish physician and philosopher, had devised guidelines for the use of urine as a diagnostic aid and under the Jerusalem Code of 1090, failure to examine the urine exposed a physician to unrestricted beatings. Patients carried their urine to physicians in decorative flasks cradled in wicker baskets, and because urine could be shipped, diagnosis at long distance was common. The first book detailing the color, density, quality, and sediment found in urine was written around this time, as well. By around AD 1300, uroscopy became so widespread that it was at the point of near universality in European medicine.Consequently, the clinical laboratory became a standard fixture of medicine at the beginning of the 20th century it is now an integral part of the health-care delivery process and is seen as the basis for medical diagnosis.In recent times a medical laboratory scientist (MLS), formerly known as a medical technologist (MT) or clinical laboratory scientist (CLS), functions as a medical detective, performing laboratory tests that provide physicians with information that assists them in preventing, diagnosing and treating diseases and maintaining patient wellness.The medical laboratory scientist performs a wide var. of laboratory tests, ranging from simple dipstick urine tests to complex DNA tests that help physicians assess risk of diseases. Using test results, physicians can uncover diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, infections and many other diseases.Medical laboratory scientists interact with physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other members of the healthcare team to provide timely, accurate information so the patient can receive the correct medical treatment.Medical laboratory scientists use sophisticated biomedical instruments and technology, microscopes, complex electronic equipment, computers, and methods requiring manual dexterity to perform tests on blood, body flui ds, and tissue specimens. Clinical laboratory testing sections include clinical chemistry, hematology, Immunohematology (Blood Bank), immunology, microbiology and molecular diagnostics. do OF MEDICAL LABORATORIESMedical Laboratories have played a pivotal role over the years. As verbalize above, in ancient times, physicians relied on various inaccurate means of disease diagnosis such as urine tasting, listening to the lungs etc. However with the advent and subsequent evolution of modern medical laboratory facilities, plus the discovery of the cellular nature of human tissue and the invention of the microscope, medical diagnosis made a tremendous leap from a 50-50 accuracy ratio to an 80% accuracy rating for laboratory based medical diagnosis. in that respectfore the use of medical laboratories has greatly increased the accuracy of diagnosis then the physician can administer the proper kind of treatment.The use of laboratories has also led to various discoveries, such as new strand s of Viruses, bacteria, parasites and fungi. It also acts as a monitor for new strands of drug resistant bacteria.CHALLENGES go about BY MEDICAL LABORATORIESThe main challenges and bottle-necks encountered by medical laboratories over the years include.Inability to preserve patient samples or specimens such as blood, sputum, stool, over a long period of time for reference purposes because making patient to specimen matching and tracking,Efficient information sharing and retrieval between the laboratory scientist and those administering treatment has been a problem.MEDICAL LABORATORIES IMPROVEMENTS AND THE FUTUREFor the efficient functioning of the diagnosis system, health-care delivery, scientific research into bacteriology and disease causing organisms, technology should be applied to automate administrative tasks, such as the visitor registration and result documentation. By making judicious use of computer software to automate and manage tasks in the laboratory there will be a dramatic increase in its efficiency.Consequently this will greatly reduce the need to recruit and pay personnel to carry out administrative duties therefore such resources can be channeled towards more important needs of the laboratory.TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM/PROGRAMMING language TO BE USED IN STUDYThe technologies to be used in the development of this Laboratory Information Management system is an open source programming language known as PHP, together with a MYSQL driven database, a solid browser based application will be developed.PHP PHP also known as Hypertext Pre-processor, it belongs to a class of languages known as middleware (Needham, 2006). These languages work closely with the web server to assure the request made from the web, processes these request, interact with other programs on the server to fulfill the request and then indicates to the web server exactly what to serve to the clients browser.It is the leading web programming language for design of web applications. It possesses a language similar to C, Java or Pearl. Its uses include retrieving user input and saving it in a database, retrieving information from a database and general data manipulation processes.THE CLIENT Simply refers to end users of an application that colligate to a remote server to carry out computational processesTHE SERVER An application known as a web server listens for requests a client makes, responds to those requests and serves out the appropriate response (Greenspan, 2002)MYSQL Refers to an open source relational database management system with a set of programs that access and manipulate these records. (Descartes, 2003).It is arelational database management system (RDBMS)that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases.APACHE WEB SERVERApache is a web server notable for playing an important role in the initial growth of the world-wide web.It is obligated for accepting Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request from web client (web browser s) and serving the HTTP responses along with optional data content which usually are HTML pages.These platforms are used in this research work becauseThere are open source meaning there are free to use and develop with without having to leveraging licenses or fulfill any legal obligation to the owners of the technology.It is easy to deploy on a local machineIts hardware requirements are minimal therefore making its installation and usage less cumbersome.Developer tools and support services for the platform/technology are readily available at absolutely no cost.selective information COLLECTED FOR LABORATORY TESTLab Investigation Form This form is used for general patient registration and data collection. selective information collected on this form includePatient NamePatient ageHospital NumberSpecimenBlood SpecimenSputumStoolUrea non-homogeneous SwapInvestigation RecordClinic DetailsName of DoctorLab Request Book use to record Patients data for that day.NameLab Investigation DoneAmo untTime inData Collected for lab testsLab result book (Used for recording patients results)Patients NameDate of birth sexTest ResultsDateHospital registration NumberExtra CommentsSUMMARYThe use of technological solutions greatly reduces costs, increase profits, save human effort and provide better services to customers/clientsThe use of an LIS (Laboratory information System) in the running of a medical laboratory facility greatly improves the documentation process makes patients records retrieval a lot easier and faster, records are not lost and are kept safe via regular backup of the available data.With the use of a Laboratory information system, various kinds of data deductions, surveys and reports can be easily generated for statistical purposes such as the average percentage of persons with a certain kind of disease, Genotype or blood type etc.CONCLUSIONA properly developed Medical Laboratory information system will greatly increase productivity, increase the quality of services delivered by the facility and greatly reduce the amount of man hours put into the delivering the laboratory services