Medical Information Governance in Diagnostic Laboratories: Integrating Medical Information Management to Mitigate Pre-Analytical Errors

Abstract

The pre-analytical phase is the most vulnerable component of the total testing process and accounts for a significant proportion of laboratory errors. In public outpatient centers, this vulnerability is more pronounced due to high patient volumes and weaknesses in information flow. This editorial aims to emphasize the role of medical information professionals in reducing pre-analytical laboratory errors and enhancing patient safety. For proper governance of medical information in diagnostic laboratories, laboratory information systems (LIS) need to extend beyond merely recording identity demographic data. By providing and delivering appropriate information to patients at the appropriate time, standardizing communications, employing integrated digital systems, and fostering informed patient participation in the diagnostic and treatment process, such systems can support diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. This can be achieved easily and at minimal cost within the health system through cross-sectoral collaboration and the integration of the Laboratory Information System with medical information management and medical libraries. This editorial emphasizes the integration of the laboratory information system (LIS), the laboratory information management system (LIMS), and field of medical information management (MIM) as a unified information model within the medical diagnostic laboratory and clinical services. Through cross-sectoral communication, information integration, effective information transfer, and the provision of pre-test information to patients with the assistance of medical librarians, this model can reduce laboratory errors and result-transmission errors, and improve patient safety.

Keywords: Pre-analytical Phase, Laboratory Errors, Medical Errors, Medical Information Management, Health information, Patient safety, Information transfer, Health literacy