The Role of Total Laboratory Automation in a Consolidated Laboratory Network

[摘要] Background: In an effort to reduce overall laboratory costs and improve overall laboratory efficiencies at all of its network hospitals, the North Shore–Long Island Health System recently established a Consolidated Laboratory Network with a Core Laboratory at its center.Methods: We established and implemented a centralized Core Laboratory designed around the Roche/Hitachi CLAS Total Laboratory Automation system to perform the general and esoteric laboratory testing throughout the system in a timely and cost-effective fashion. All remaining STAT testing will be performed within the Rapid Response Laboratories (RRLs) at each of the system’s hospitals.Results: Results for this laboratory consolidation and implementation effort demonstrated a decrease in labor costs and improved turnaround time (TAT) at the core laboratory. Anticipated system savings are ∼$2.7 million. TATs averaged 1.3 h within the Core Laboratory and less than 30 min in the RRLs.Conclusions: When properly implemented, automation systems can reduce overall laboratory expenses, enhance patient services, and address the overall concerns facing the laboratory today: job satisfaction, decreased length of stay, and safety. The financial savings realized are primarily a result of labor reductions.

[学科分类] 过敏症与临床免疫学