Automation and productivity in the clinical laboratory: experience of a tertiary healthcare facility.
- Author:
Chin Pin YEO
1
;
Wai Yoong NG
1
Author Information
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords: clinical biochemistry laboratory; laboratory automation; lean; productivity
- MeSH: Aged; Automation, Laboratory; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; organization & administration; Clinical Laboratory Techniques; Efficiency, Organizational; statistics & numerical data; Hospitals, General; Humans; Laboratories, Hospital; organization & administration; Middle Aged; Quality of Health Care; Singapore; Tertiary Healthcare; organization & administration; User-Computer Interface; Workload
- From:Singapore medical journal 2018;59(11):597-601
- CountrySingapore
- Language:English
- Abstract: Clinical laboratories for in vitro diagnostics are facing pressure to preserve cost control while providing better services through new initiatives. Laboratory automation is a partial answer to this problem, having come a long way from the early days of clinical laboratory testing. The journey and implementation of automation in the Singapore General Hospital's Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory has allowed for sustained performance in the light of increasing workload and service commitments amid an evolving healthcare environment. Key to realising predicted outcomes is the optimisation of workflow processes, reduction of errors, and spatial placement of specimen reception and analytical areas. This paper gives an overview of our experience with automation in the clinical laboratory and its subsequent impact on service standards.
