Author: hc1

By Mackin Bannon
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July 24, 2024

The hc1 Engineering team has been hard at work over the first half of the year. On top of a lot of important back-end work to ensure the performance and stability of our solutions for years to come, we have also made some significant (and much requested) upgrades and released a brand new add-on solution!

Here are the highlights from our first half releases and product updates.

NEW Blood Utilization Solution

Over the last couple years we’ve heard a lot of feedback from health system and hospital labs that monitoring blood utilization is a difficult task. The data needed to perform meaningful analysis isn’t available in any single system, so labs have to manually pull data and conduct analysis in spreadsheets, an inefficient and ineffective process when resources are already stretched thin.

hc1 Blood Utilization consolidates blood data into a single system to give hospital labs a comprehensive view of key blood usage metrics, enabling lab leaders to take targeted action and track progress over time. Two cloud-based, near-real-time dashboards include high-level key performance indicators, detailed trending reports and filters for providers, specialties and ordering locations. This solution automates the reporting process, giving labs immediate insight into blood usage metrics without any manual effort.

Learn more about the solution here.

Saved Filters

hc1 dashboards offer a slew of robust filters, which many of our users use to monitor a specific set of criteria on a daily basis. A department head may track turnaround time for their department and specific tests. A customer service rep may track issues with just the set of clients they serve. However, historically, hc1 did not offer the ability to save these filters for future use. Users had to manually set them every time they opened a dashboard, or create copies of the dashboard with different default filters.

Well, we’re happy to announce that one of our most requested features is here: saved filters! Available on ALL hc1 dashboards and analytics, users now have the ability to save frequently used filter selections and quickly apply them whenever they’re needed. You can even save multiple sets of filters on an individual dashboard and toggle between them. This will greatly speed up day-to-day analysis of your data and operations within hc1.

hc1 clients can learn more about Saved Filters in hc1 Academy.

Workforce Optimization Updates

Since launching Workforce Optimization at the beginning of the year, we have continued to refine and update the solution based on feedback from our development partner, American Oncology Network, and others. 

One of the most significant updates so far is an enhanced UI/UX experience across the entire Workforce Optimization dashboard. An enhanced design and new color-coding provides improved readability of all metrics. We have also made updates to our algorithms and AI prediction model to improve the accuracy of reports and staffing recommendations. These include accounting for days where a lab department is closed and adding an “Exclude” flag for employees who do not contribute to processing specimens or test volume.

Want to see Workforce Optimization in action? Request a demo here.

Service Select 2.0

If you’re an hc1 client, chances are you’re very familiar with hc1 Service Select. Service Select provides you access to hc1 experts to help expand and enhance your hc1 solutions to optimize outcomes. However, experience of using Service Select had room for improvement.

With Service Select 2.0, hc1 Support and hc1 Service Select interactions are now combined in a single portal for our customers. This streamlines the experience of working with our Services team. The new portal also integrates directly with Jira for better visibility and tracking of all new requests, so we can start assisting you more quickly.

hc1 clients can learn more about Service Select in hc1 Academy.

 

If you’re not a current hc1 client but want to learn more about these features and solutions, as well as everything else we have to offer, request a demo with an hc1 expert today.

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Mackin Bannon is the Product Marketing Manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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June 5, 2024

The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies is a hot topic currently, including in the context of clinical laboratories. Understanding AI technologies and their applications is essential for laboratories to improve efficiency and integrate into broader health ecosystems. Incorporating AI and ML into strategic planning can also unlock substantial advantages for clinical labs in today’s evolving landscape. 

However, for lab leaders and managers seeking to harness the potential of AI and ML, it’s imperative to understand how to effectively embrace these advancements to ensure successful implementation. This blog post will provide examples of practical applications of AI and ML in clinical labs and address the essential steps needed to prepare for and fully embrace AI investments.

Defining Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Before diving into how labs can utilize AI and ML, it is important to define these two terms to level set and ensure mutual understanding.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is the science of making machines that can think like humans. It can do things that are considered “smart.” AI technology can process large amounts of data in ways unlike humans. The goal for AI is to be able to do things such as recognize patterns, make decisions and judge like humans. 

Machine learning (ML) is a branch of artificial intelligence and computer science that focuses on using data and algorithms for AI to imitate the way that humans learn, gradually improving accuracy.

Applications of AI and ML for Clinical Labs

There are a multitude of ways that clinical laboratories can implement artificial intelligence and machine learning into their operations. These applications fall into three primary categories.

Clinical Decision Support

Machine learning models can learn from health data to predict patient needs and suggest effective treatments. They can also analyze large datasets to identify gaps or cases where improper treatment may be occuring. For example, hc1’s PrecisionDx Advisor solution uses an enterprise-scale rules engine to surface unnecessary testing, such as duplicate or obsolete testing, to help laboratory stewardship teams target efforts to reduce test misutilization.

Operational Excellence

AI technology can help labs aim for excellence in laboratory operations. Repetitive tasks can be automated, reducing errors and freeing up staff to focus on more strategic activities. Large scale projects like mapping compendiums can be completely automated using ML. Developments like digital pathology can help pathologists turn tests around faster while enhancing precision and accuracy.

Resource Optimization

Labs can also leverage AI and ML to overcome resource limitations. Data-backed demand forecasting can help labs ensure staff and resources are optimized for expected volume. Taking that a step further, predictive staffing recommendations – like those provided by hc1 Workforce Optimization – can help ensure the right staff are in the right place at the right time.

Methodical Approach to Implementing AI and ML Technology

When implementing any new lab technology, it’s important to have the right foundations in place to effectively utilize and fully benefit from the solution. This includes systems, processes and data. This is especially important with AI and ML – without good data, any solution utilizing AI and ML will be completely ineffective.

The hc1 Laboratory Performance Maturity Model is a 5-step approach that helps lab leaders assess their current technological state and create a methodical plan to build up systems and processes to achieve optimal performance.

  1. Data Fundamentals & Infrastructure: Install data governance, processes, normalization and standards.
  2. Operations & Visibility: Systematize and automate lab performance analytics and customer-facing business operations.
  3. Data Driven Decisions: Data and analytics inform critical decision making. Lab leadership can innovate and drive data insights without IT dependency.
  4. Advanced Tech Capabilities: Lab leaders have advanced tools to optimize lab operations and have evidence-based data to influence system leadership to drive clinical best practices.
  5. Predict and Impact the Future: Lab leaders use technology to anticipate trends, issues and opportunities and proactively address future business and clinical conditions.

It is at this fifth level that laboratories are ready to truly see maximum impact from AI and ML technologies.

5 Steps to Implement the Right AI Formula

The digital revolution is not a dream of tomorrow – as we see, it is already well underway, and lab leaders and managers need to prepare their labs today. To set their labs up for long-term success and innovation, lab leaders should consider the following steps:

  1. Data: Set up the data lake and infrastructure needed to maximize the impact of AI and ML technologies.
  2. Resources: Address resource limitations to ensure there is budget and staff capacity available to invest in new technologies.
  3. Technology: Invest in infrastructure and technology to support lab digitalization and interconnection, including automation systems and data accessibility tools.
  4. Organization: Build readiness for change with visionary leadership. Prioritize training and upskilling of staff to manage and interpret data from digital technologies.
  5. Implementation: Ensure goal alignment across the organization. Establish success metrics to measure results. Continually focus on process improvement.

There are a multitude of ways labs can adopt AI and ML technologies today and derive immediate benefits in care delivery and operational efficiency. Lab leaders that leverage AI for competitive advantage, plan for long-term adoption and stay informed on advancements can position their labs for future success, enhance patient outcomes and reduce costs.

If you’re interested in incorporating AI and ML into your lab but don’t know where to start, reach out to hc1 and allow us to help you determine the right approach.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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May 22, 2024

Over 2.3 trillion gigabytes of data are generated every year in healthcare. Equal to: 

One key place where the value of this data can be realized is in the lab. For over a decade hc1 has been transforming lab data into personalized healthcare insights. One key thing that we’ve discovered is that the best way for labs to achieve both internal operational efficiency, provide exceptional customer service and grow their business is to centralize all of those functions in a single platform. 

Based on our experience, here are three of the biggest challenges your lab can overcome with a single lab insights platform that can help increase your lab’s value.

1. Data Silos

All too often, laboratories are managed by various departments running a myriad of disparate data systems and silos – making the prospect of capturing a comprehensive client view a daunting proposition. LIS, billing, sales and client service systems collectively store an abundance of critical data. The hunt for key information is spread among multiple locations, which often results in two unfortunate situations: 

  • An inefficient resolution is put into place because the root cause is too difficult to pinpoint.
  • Too much time passes during the process of hunting down data, causing an already strained relationship to progress to “crisis mode.”

While most labs have access to an abundance of data that can guide decisions and help identify reasons for issues, the challenge typically lies in promptly and easily making sense of this information. Some labs employ teams of analysts to compile and review data from multiple sources. Client issues could be completely overlooked due to the disconnect between top level or roll-up data and what is actually happening on a per-client basis.

Having a real-time, transparent view across IT solutions and departments can make a world of difference in managing client relationships. After all, clients expect great, consistent service the majority of the time and want prompt, correct answers or plans when things veer off track.

2. Delayed Issue Tracking 

A typical lab’s quality review cycle occurs every 90 to 120 days, and the reports that are reviewed are typically manually compiled in arrears. Thus, client issues often go unresolved for weeks or even months, during which time the client may engage with a competitor. In a highly competitive healthcare landscape, labs can’t afford to lack a clear, real-time view of all client issues. What happens, for example, if a lab realizes a significant volume decline in an account 6 months after the fact? With real-time insight into critical accounts, managers would have been able to recognize the downward trend in time to take proactive action.

To remove delays in issue tracking and resolution, team members must have access to:

  • A real-time, 360-degree view of important client communications and activity history.
  • Real-time notifications that alert the appropriate team members to changes in order volume, revenues, turnaround time or outstanding issues that are due for resolution.
  • Easy-to-use dashboards that display up-to-the-moment client status, issues and concerns.

With a holistic, real-time view of every client in a central location, labs also have the peace of mind that expansion and new business opportunities stay at the forefront. By providing proactive service and quickly resolving issues, labs can free up more time to spend visiting key clients and discovering needs that translate into additional revenue.

3. Lack of Real-Time Provider Insights

Many laboratory sales and outreach teams use a customer relationship management (CRM) tool to manage provider relationships and track new opportunities. However, these tools either do not integrate with lab data sources or require costly consultations and significant customization to do so. Meanwhile, other labs are still managing their outreach using spreadsheets and email.

Either way, these labs lack valuable, real-time insight into provider ordering trends and issues. Without this data, sales teams are left flying blind when engaging with providers. Reps may be susceptible to being blindsided by unresolved issues and don’t have the information they need to target their sales efforts.

A lab insights platform that combines CRM functionality with comprehensive, real-time lab data gives lab outreach teams the insights necessary to focus their sales and marketing campaigns where they have the most impact. Labs seeking to expand their footprint with current clients now have everything they need for maximum growth:

  • Insight into which tests are most commonly ordered and by whom.
  • Visibility into ordering activity by time and specialty.
  • The ability to focus on specialties ordering most frequently and with the most billable tests per requisition.
  • The tools to track changes in order volume by physician, ordering location and specialty to know when an account may be at risk.

These patterns and insights serve as a guide for profiling new opportunities. The sales team is then able to use targeted marketing resources in order to educate the practice on additional services. 

Next Steps

A critical step in a lab’s journey to reach its full potential is to remove data silos and organize lab data in such a way that actionable insights can be derived and then clearly communicated. All the data is almost useless without a method to ingest, organize and normalize it into actionable information that is meaningful for providers and patients. 

Through our proprietary cloud-based technology, hc1 is able to deliver easily adoptable, scalable solutions that enable organizations to overcome knowledge and workflow barriers to achieve their goals.

The hc1 Lab Insights Platform™ helps laboratories better serve providers and patients by enabling quick access to the insights needed to improve how they manage internal and external processes and relationships.

Are you ready to get started on unifying your lab’s data in a single platform? Request a demo of our hc1 Operations Management Solution™ today.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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May 7, 2024

hc1 Workforce Optimization™ is a first-of-its-kind solution that leverages the power of artificial intelligence to help lab leaders make better, faster, more confident staff scheduling decisions. However, with such a novel product comes lots of questions: What is it? How does it work? Is this solution right for our lab?

Good news: we have answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Workforce Optimization.

Q: Is Workforce Optimization a staffing / recruiting tool?
A: No, Workforce Optimization is a cloud-based software solution that uses artificial intelligence to predict demand for lab services and provide staff scheduling recommendations.

Q: Will I be able to use this as a replacement for my laboratory scheduling system?
A: No. Workforce Optimization is designed to work in tandem with your HRIS, such as Kronos, Workday, ADP, etc. It is not a replacement for these systems. The solution studies both your lab volume and HRIS data, then leverages artificial intelligence to project future volume trends, identify potential staffing shortages or overages and suggest specific, department-level resource adjustments.

Q: Do we need to have a large lab staff for this to be the right solution for us?
A: No. hc1 Workforce Optimization will provide powerful insights, recommendations and business impact regardless if you are a smaller, 50-person lab or a multi-site system with over 1,000 lab employees.

Q: Can we use this product across multiple labs? How does that work?
A: Yes! Many of our customers are multi-site. So regardless of how many performing labs you have, such core labs, satellite labs or hospital-based labs, you will be able to view all of them or filter down to a specific location to understand your staffing optimization.

Q: Which systems do you connect to?
A: We can connect to any LIS or HRIS – we have successfully interfaced with 80 unique systems! We started out as a company that built interfaces and became masters of healthcare data before developing the solutions that use it. If you can provide the data to us, our team takes care of the rest.

Q: Is it a problem if we have multiple LISs or multiple HRISs?
A: No. hc1 can combine multiple LIS data feeds through our hc1 Connect integration engine. Similarly, if you have multiple HRIS platforms, those data feeds can also be combined to get an enterprise-wide view in hc1.

Q: Can my team be notified if we have a specific staffing issue?
A: Yes! You can set up and customize email alerts to go out to specific team members when certain metrics are met or exceeded. This allows lab managers, leaders and executives to perform their day-to-day responsibilities, with the knowledge that they will be notified if there is a problem.

Q: Should I be concerned about leaving my lab staff scheduling decisions to AI?
A: Not at all! Workforce Optimization uses what we like to call “human-assisted” AI. While our machine learning model does make demand predictions and staffing recommendations, there is still a human element required to adjust staff schedules. The solution doesn’t automatically update staff schedules or communicate changes back to the HRIS. This gives you the opportunity to review each recommendation and ensure employees’ schedules are adjusted appropriately.

Interested in learning more about Workforce Optimization? Request a demo today to see how it can help you resolve staffing shortages before they happen by ensuring the right people are in the right place at the right time.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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April 17, 2024

Spring is here, which means nature is in bloom, the weather is warming up (for the most part) and lab event season is underway! hc1 has a packed schedule of events over the next several months, and we can’t wait to see some familiar faces, meet plenty of new ones and discuss the biggest challenges facing laboratories today.

Continue reading for more information on our upcoming events and where you can find hc1.

Executive War College

April 30–May 1, 2024 | New Orleans

hc1 is thrilled to once again join thousands of industry leaders and decision-makers at this year’s Executive War College (EWC). We’re honored to have two presentations at this premier event. 

On Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30 AM, hc1 Sr. Product Director, John Moyer, will present alongside Curtiss McNair, VP / GM of Laboratory Services for hc1 client American Oncology Network, on our collaborative partnership to develop the hc1 Workforce Optimization solution. Specifically, John and Curtiss will highlight how the solution uses real-time analytics with AI to align clinical lab and pathologist staffing with predicted test volumes.

Later on Wednesday at 1:30 PM, our Chairman and CEO, Brad Bostic, will be presenting on how labs can adopt artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies today to drive tangible improvements in care delivery and cost reduction.

We would also love to meet with you one-on-one at EWC. To request a private meeting time, just complete our meeting request form.

COLA Laboratory Enrichment Forum

May 7–9, 2024 | Fort Walton Beach, FL

We’re equally thrilled to attend COLA’s Laboratory Enrichment Forum for the first time! We couldn’t agree more with this year’s “Medical Laboratory Science: The Hidden Gem of Healthcare” theme and look forward to sharing ideas and discussing solutions to common challenges facing the field of Laboratory Medicine.

Be sure to catch our presentation on Wednesday, May 8, at 10:25 AM. Alexa Topper, hc1 Sr. Client Success Manager, and Eric Razskazoff, System Manager, Business Development for hc1 client MHealth Fairview Reference Laboratories, will be sharing how hc1 helped Eric and team grow and manage their outreach program through real-time insights.

hc1 is also exhibiting at the Laboratory Enrichment Forum! The hc1 team will be available all week at Booth #17 to discuss your lab’s greatest challenges and identify the hc1 solutions that may be right for you. If you’d prefer to schedule time to meet one-on-one, just complete our meeting request form.

Looking Ahead

Our next event on the calendar following EWC and COLA is the ASCLS, AGT & SAFMLS Joint Annual Meeting (JAM), which is taking place in Pittsburgh from July 8–12. Stay tuned for more information on where to find hc1 at JAM.

Along with in-person events, hc1 will be hosting quarterly webinars throughout the year showcasing our latest lab solutions. Visit our Events page at hc1.com/events for more information, or sign up to join our hc1 events mailing list and have it delivered to your inbox!

We are so grateful for these opportunities and love sharing what we do with the lab industry. We have a packed schedule for this year and wouldn’t want it any other way. We hope to see you at an event soon!

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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March 20, 2024

Clinical laboratories could be identified as the heart of any health system, as lab testing is the single highest-volume medical activity. However, labs are currently facing numerous threats that are placing a significant amount of stress on both organizations and lab professionals.

From staffing and supply shortages to higher costs and declining reimbursement, here are the top six trends putting clinical labs under stress.

Rising demand

Demand for diagnostic testing continues to rise, spurred by an increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and an aging population. In 2021, the Medicare program spent $9.3 billion on laboratory tests, marking a record 17 percent increase from the previous year. Noncommunicable diseases are widespread, particularly in the United States, where nearly 60% of adults live with at least one chronic condition. Globally, the aging population is also growing; the share of the global population aged 65 and older is projected to rise from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. At that point, it is expected that the number of persons aged 65 years or over worldwide will be more than twice the number of children under age 5 and about the same as the number under age 12. In turn, the global clinical laboratory service market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2% from 2023 to 2030.

Higher complexity

Molecular and other advanced testing types firmly established a foothold in laboratories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the value of PCR testing for infectious diseases has been widely recognized, laboratories are increasingly expected to expand the scope of their existing testing capabilities to include more analytes and observations. Demand for genetic testing is also increasing. By November 2022, U.S. physicians could choose from 129,624 genetic tests to order. These new tests can be highly complex and require new techniques, expensive reagents and equipment, as well as advanced skill sets. 

Lower reimbursement 

Labs may have more work to do but are getting paid less for it. They gained another year’s reprieve from significant Medicare reimbursement cuts as Congress delayed both PAMA cuts and a scheduled price data reporting period but saw drops in reimbursement from private payers as many took advantage of the 2022 rollout of the No Surprises Act to cut rates based on the newly visible pricing.

Higher costs 

Overall, market prices for lab supplies, equipment and labor are increasing. Lab equipment and IT software prices are projected to increase an average of 4.2% from January 2023 to December 2023, while reagent, energy and labor costs are also expected to increase. Clinical labor costs are projected to grow 6 to 10 percent in 2023-24, about three to seven percentage points above the prevailing rate of inflation.

Supply shortages

The COVID-19 global pandemic brought with it lasting effects on the U.S. healthcare system, including numerous supply chain shortages impacting the availability of collection devices, reagents and other critical lab supplies. While many supply chain issues have been resolved, warehouse and port capacity shortages, as well as logistics staffing shortages, continue to cause disruptions in many areas. Through the summer of 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Medical Device Shortages List continued to include numerous specimen collection devices, transport media, laboratory reagents and testing supplies.

Staffing shortages

A shortage of approximately 20,000–25,000 laboratory staff is severely impacting U.S. laboratories, with overall vacancy rates highest for chemistry/toxicology departments at 12.7%. Understaffing in the laboratory not only threatens turnaround time and quality, but also worker satisfaction. A 2023 Wage and Morale Survey conducted by Lighthouse Lab Services found that staffing levels and satisfaction were closely linked. Among the 67% of respondents who reported their labs were moderately or significantly understaffed, 41% described themselves as extremely or moderately unsatisfied in their role.

How can clinical laboratories overcome these issues while also improving patient care? Lab data. When labs combine their expertise with an effective technology strategy, they can proactively remove data silos and unlock the hidden value in lab data to optimize operations and inform testing and treatment decisions. Request a demo today to see how hc1 can help your lab extract invaluable insights from your data to solve your biggest challenges.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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A critical shortage of medical laboratory professionals combined with increasing burnout has made staffing one of the biggest challenges labs face today. Several factors make lab staff scheduling difficult, including laboratory staffing shortages, a lack of new laboratorians, and staff burnout.

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Staffing is one of the biggest challenges facing laboratories today. Over the last several years many labs have lost staff for a variety of reasons, from burnout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to increasing rates of retirement. When combined with a declining number of training programs, the result is a critical shortage of medical laboratory professionals.

There are three primary factors contributing to this laboratory staffing challenge.

1. Staffing shortages

A 2022 Wage and Morale Survey conducted by Lighthouse Lab Services found that 40% of lab professionals indicated their lab was moderately understaffed, while another 33% described their lab as significantly understaffed. Just 27% of respondents felt their lab was adequately or well-staffed.

In total, this amounts to a shortage of approximately 20,000-25,000 laboratory staff across U.S. laboratories, or roughly one medical laboratory scientist per 1,000 people.

2. Lack of new lab professionals

One cause of these increasing lab staffing shortages is that the number of new laboratory technologists and technicians isn’t keeping up with the pace of those retiring or leaving the industry. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics “projects a nationwide need for a 13% average increase in medical laboratory technologists and technicians between 2016 and 2026, nearly double the underlying average increase in all occupations of 7%.”

A major factor is that the number of laboratory training programs is declining. There are approximately 240 medical laboratory technician and scientist training programs in the United States, a 7% drop from 2000, and some states have no training programs.

With the laboratory personnel labor force aging at a 78 percent faster rate than the entire United States labor market, it is critical that the lab industry finds a way to train current staff and increase the number of new laboratory professionals entering the market.

3. Staff burnout

A recent survey by the American Society for Clinical Pathology found that 85.3% of respondents reported having felt burnout as a laboratory professional. About half of those respondents that felt burnout reported this as a current issue, with 69.3% considering changing careers completely or retiring in response.

The top issues contributing to the burnout of laboratory professionals are lack of adequate staffing (36.5%) and heavy workload and pressure to complete all testing (31.5%), indicating a strong correlation between staffing shortages and burnout.

The impact

These staffing shortages have placed a continuing burden on lab professionals to do more with less. Lab leaders are being asked to produce higher testing volumes and generate faster turnaround times, all while ensuring employees are happy to drive retention. However, labs are being given the impossible task of doing all this with fewer staff, not to mention ever-reducing budgets and continued supply constraints.

The solution: hc1 Workforce Optimization™

The good news is that hc1 can help labs overcome these staffing challenges! Our Workforce Optimization solution helps labs resolve staffing shortages before they happen by using AI to predict demand for lab services and provide staff scheduling recommendations.

By predicting demand for lab services department-by-department across the organization, Workforce Optimization enables lab leaders to proactively identify potential shortages or overages, adjust staffing assignments accordingly and monitor the business impact of changes over time.

Interested in learning more about how Workforce Optimization? Request a demo today to discuss how we can work together to enable you to make better, faster, more confident staff scheduling decisions.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Mackin Bannon
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February 7, 2024

According to a report from the American Hospital Association, over half of hospitals ended 2022 operating at a financial loss, primarily due to hospital expense growth outpacing Medicare reimbursement by about 10 percent.

To combat these financial challenges, health systems are looking for ways to “launch new lines of business, add new services and find ways to differentiate,” according to Optum. Their survey of 150 healthcare leaders found that 49 percent consider growth one of the industry’s top challenges. 

“Hospital-based labs across the United States are forging ahead with their lab outreach services in ways that generate many benefits,” said Jane Hermansen, manager of outreach and network development at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, in an interview with Dark Daily.

Helping physicians deliver better care

Because of their community-based locations, health system and hospital-based labs can gain a superior level of trust with providers and patients. 

“Hospital laboratories are uniquely positioned to deliver value to the physicians and other providers in the towns and regions they serve,” said a recent Dark Daily article. “The obvious benefit is that the lab, its employees and its clinical pathologists all live in the community. They have professional relationships that may go back decades with the physicians who order medical laboratory tests for their patients.”

Additionally, many health system labs have available capacity and, due to being local, can turn around results faster. Often they can run tests and report results on the same day samples are received. Plus, when a hospital-based lab performs both inpatient and outpatient testing for a patient over years, providers can see their entire lab test history and gain a better understanding of that patient’s overall health.

Providing a competitive advantage

Health system labs can provide significant advantages to providers over external reference laboratories. In addition to the level of trust and fast turnaround times mentioned previously, hospital-based outreach labs can use their own lab data to provide additional value.

“When lab data is combined with patient demographics and other sets of data, an outreach laboratory can develop clinically actionable intelligence that helps physicians and health insurers improve patient care, while lowering the total cost of care,” said the aforementioned Dark Daily article. “When packaged correctly, these enriched data offerings can generate a new source of revenue for lab outreach programs.”

Having a robust analytics tool beyond what your electronic health record (EHR) or laboratory information system (LIS) is essential to delivering these types of insights. hc1 Performance Analytics™ connects your disparate lab data sources, such as LIS, billing and EHR, to deliver actionable, real-time insights via dashboards and reports designed specifically for the lab.

Emphasizing customer relationship management

Labs looking to grow their outreach programs will benefit from increasing focus on customer relationship management. Feedback on service quality, turnaround times and any issues that may arise will help enhance the partnership over time.

A robust operations and customer relationship management (CRM) solution integrated with the laboratory information system (LIS) using a real-time HL7 interface can provide the actionable insights and data necessary to target and engage prospects and service existing outreach clients. 

hc1 clients leveraging hc1 Operations Management™ and hc1 Performance Analytics™ have grown their outreach labs by as much as 90% in less than five years. Read this past hc1 blog post for five things contributing to their success.

 

Managing and growing a laboratory outreach program is essential to many health systems. Leveraging a robust operations and customer relationship management solution like hc1’s can provide valuable account health and client insights. Request a demo today to discuss how we can work together to grow your lab outreach program in the new year.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.

By Lauren VanDenBoom
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January 24, 2024

Approximately 70 percent of medical decisions are based on pathology and laboratory test results.  Studies have shown, however, that 10 to 30 percent of the estimated 13 billion tests performed in the United States each year are either unnecessary or inappropriate. This over-testing leads to wasted cost and added hardship for the patient, who may also undergo excessive treatment as a result of inappropriate testing.

Health systems that are taking action to reduce the amount of unnecessary and inappropriate laboratory testing are saving millions of dollars.

Cleveland Clinic saved $5.9 million over eight years by avoiding more than 209,000 unnecessary tests. They were able to achieve these savings through automated notifications at the point of ordering. Their efforts included hard stop alerts to block repeat orders for tests that are never needed more than once in 24 hours and soft stop alerts that notify the provider when they are attempting to place a duplicate order and showing the previous results.

The University of Virginia Health System realized an annual savings of $61,524 on C. difficile testing alone after implementing a computerized clinical decision support (CCDS) tool to help clinicians determine the right time to order the right test. An internal audit prior to use of the tool showed that up to 67 percent of hospital-onset C. difficile infection cases did not have an indication for C. difficile testing.

Test Utilization is key to reducing costs

Between out-of-control healthcare spending and pressure to combat staff and supply shortages, health system labs need a simple way to reduce unnecessary, outdated, high-cost, low-value test orders.

The savings that can be realized through implementing an effective utilization program can more than compensate for the expense of putting the appropriate resources and team in place. Estimates project that healthcare systems could reduce costs of up to $5 billion per year if they were just to eliminate redundant tests.

Eliminate wasteful testing with hc1 Test Utilization™

Leveraging usage data and automated decision support greatly reduces unnecessary test orders and costs. However, data siloed across disconnected systems that don’t communicate well with one another can make test utilization improvement efforts a laborious and time-consuming process that lab leaders don’t have the resources to manage. 

hc1’s Test Utilization™ combines a comprehensive, customizable utilization engine with real-time insights to help labs reduce unnecessary, outdated, high-cost and low-cost value test orders. With a view into where and how often specific types of misutilization are occurring, lab leaders can target change across their organization and lower costs.

A few key features of hc1 Test Utilization that put the control in the hands of lab decision-makers are

Empowering labs to reduce waste and better utilize resources.

 

Shift from historical practice to best practice

Start from a core set of testing guidelines based on Choosing Wisely® recommendations, then customize them to fit your needs.

Ability to monitor utilization trends in real time

Uncover where and how often misutilization occurs to identify room for improvement and take targeted action.

Target and track the highest-cost testing

See which rules, types of rules, providers and locations are responsible for the most spending on unnecessary testing.

Driving change across your organization

Gain a clear view of ordering patterns throughout your organization, target change and monitor ordering behavior over time.

See how we can help you eliminate wasteful testing

Request a demo to see how hc1 Test Utilization can help your lab and health system save money!

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Lauren VanDenBoom, vice president of marketing at hc1 Insights, leads hc1’s marketing team in their efforts to advance awareness of hc1’s unique capabilities and vision. Lauren’s background includes more than 18 years of lab industry marketing and communications, including key marketing roles in toxicology and women’s health-focused laboratories.

By Mackin Bannon
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January 10, 2024

Healthcare organizations – especially laboratories – continue to experience rising costs year over year. These costs are driven by various factors, primarily staffing shortages, supply chain issues, increasing test complexity and general market forces like inflation.

How can labs combat these rising costs and ensure their operations don’t fall behind? Below are three strategies that can set labs up for success in 2024.

Reduce labor costs by optimizing staffing levels

Labor accounts for nearly half of health systems’ budgets and, according to the American Hospital Association, has increased more than 20 percent since 2019. Clinical labor costs are projected to grow 6 to 10 percent in 2023-24, about three to seven percentage points above the prevailing rate of inflation.

Further exacerbating the problem is the growing shortage of laboratory personnel. This shortage is due to several factors, including high educational costs; lack of familiarity with laboratory medicine as a career option, declines in the number of training programs and students trained; and high workload, stress and burnout.

One innovative way to both reduce turnover due to burnout and reduce costs associated with understaffing is to ensure lab staff scheduling is as efficient as possible. This can be done by predicting likely specimen volume in each department and then adjusting staffing levels accordingly. 

hc1 Workforce Optimization, our new cloud-based technology solution, uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) trained on combined lab testing and HRIS data to recommend the most likely scheduling adjustments to create maximum efficiency. These actionable recommendations enable lab leaders to precisely schedule staff according to anticipated volume, reducing reliance on costly sendouts and travel techs.

Utilize excess analyzer capacity by bringing new testing in-house

Molecular and other advanced testing types firmly established a foothold in laboratories in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the value of PCR testing for infectious diseases has been widely recognized, laboratories are increasingly expected to expand the scope of their existing testing capabilities to include more analytes and observations. 

A 2022 survey by Medical Laboratory Observer uncovered that 54 percent of lab professionals had excess capacity in analyzers originally purchased to handle COVID-19 testing. This number is expected to continue increasing as at-home COVID-19 testing becomes the norm.

In response, 46 percent of those with excess capacity said they planned to add new tests to in-house offerings from among those that are currently sent out to reference labs, compared to just 10 percent that said they would retire some analyzers. Utilizing this excess capacity is a great way to draw more value from these capital investments while lowering the lab’s cost per test for tests brought in-house.

But how do labs determine which tests to bring in-house and what the financial impact will be? hc1 Sendout Management is an analytics tool that consolidates reference lab data into a single dashboard to provide real-time insight into reference lab performance and cost. With this data in hand, labs can assess specific sendout tests and make informed decisions based on reference lab performance and cost.

Improve laboratory stewardship to reduce wasteful testing

Improving laboratory stewardship will be key for value-based health systems in 2024. Leveraging usage data and automated decision support is proving to be highly successful in reducing unnecessary test orders and costs. The savings that can be realized through implementing an effective utilization program can more than makeup for the expense of putting the appropriate resources and team in place to do so. Estimates project that healthcare systems could reduce costs up to $5 billion per year if they were just to eliminate redundant tests.

One large, midwestern health system utilized hc1 PrecisionDx Advisor to launch a test utilization program across 12 hospitals, driving measurable, positive change. With real-time visibility and a clear focus for initial improvement, this health system was able to quickly compare utilization trends by site location, physician and several other attributes to bring issues and opportunities to light. Substantial reductions in the utilization rates of individual analytes at the hospital level were achieved within 15 months. 

Ultimately, the system-wide impact of these efforts was a 5.6% reduction in lab tests per patient per day, which amounted to 147,000 fewer unnecessary tests per year and a conservative cost savings of $383,000.

As laboratories look to address rising costs and other significant challenges facing the industry in 2024, hc1 is here to help. Our unique technology solutions help labs leverage their data to deliver superior outcomes. Request a demo today to discuss how we can work together to lower your lab’s costs and set your organization up for success this year.

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Mackin Bannon is the product marketing manager for hc1. Mackin held various roles covering nearly every marketing area before settling on product marketing as a focus and joining hc1 in 2022. During the workday, he enjoys bringing stories to life in clear and creative ways. In his free time, he enjoys following his favorite sports teams, collecting vinyl records and exploring Indianapolis.