Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1362166
27 Executive Briefing "You need to combine innovative technologies with lean workflow practices. We've seen a real push to introduce lean practices into the laboratory and lab efficiency lean experts have become quite valuable." Informatics is another component that can supercharge the value of lab automation systems. Powered by BD Synapsys™ informatics, BD Kiestra solutions generate data and analytics that lab managers use to track how much work moves through a laboratory, how long that work takes and staff their labs to best optimize their workflow. It's also possible to benchmark a lab's performance against that of other hospitals in the network to see which laboratories are more efficient than average and which ones have faster turnaround times. "We've seen an increase in the tools available to monitor the work done in the clinical laboratory," Dr. Murray said. "Informatics is a good example where the impact is much greater than what was possible 10 years ago. Now lab managers can run their laboratories in a more efficient way that enables them to communicate results more rapidly for physicians." Lab automation and innovation require both a big-picture viewpoint and attention to detail As microbiologists consider an investment in a laboratory automation platform, it's important to keep the big picture in mind. This means thinking about the benefits that the technology provides at an organizational level. "I come from the microbiology community and we can sometimes be very conservative," Dr. Murray said. "In some ways, microbiologists work in a vacuum and our budget is considered in isolation. This can lead people to view automation solutions as too expensive. If they keep the total cost in mind, however, they see how a solution like BD Kiestra automation can amplify efficiencies. For example, your staff will have the capacity to handle an increased volume of specimens while improving the standardization, accuracy and turnaround times for results that physicians need for patient care." A recent study published by Thomson et al. described the improvements in lab productivity gained through the combination of BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation and Lean process improvements. 2 A metric known as Laboratory Productivity Index (LPI) was used to measure the capacity of laboratory staff to process microbiological specimens. LPI is the ratio of specimens processed per day divided by the combined fulltime equivalent (FTE) of in-scope staff. The Thomson study found that, compared to pre-automation measurements, post automation LPI increased by 41%. This increase in efficiency was achieved while managing a 17% increase in specimen volumes and a 25% decrease in lab space. A focus on innovation From a product roadmap perspective, BD partners with healthcare leaders to inform how the company approaches the design of automation products. "When we start developing a product, customers work in partnership with us," Dr. Murray said. "We need to fully appreciate the details of how they will use a product in their workflow and lab environment. For example, customers may provide us with usability feedback, such as where a knob should be located, or with input related to processing time requirements. Experts like myself can provide a broad view and general direction about where we should go, but ultimately we must work in close partnership with hospital and lab leaders as well as the lab staff to create the right product for their laboratory." Conclusion As hospitals and health systems evaluate automation platforms, they must recognize the potential impact these technologies have on the capacity of microbiology lab operations. Automation provides laboratories with an opportunity to do things in ways that were previously impossible and to address the challenges of today while preparing for the future. "Chemistry and other types of labs went through this same automation evolution and today they are much more efficient and accurate," Dr. Murray said. "Microbiology is now moving in that direction. You have to ask what automation can bring you and how you can operate in the best possible way moving forward. I think at some point in the near future, we'll look back and ask ourselves how we worked without total automation in the microbiology lab." n References 1 Croxatto A et al. Comparison of inoculation with the InoqulA and WASP automated systems with manual inoculation. J Clin Microbiol. 2015;53(7):2298-2307. 2 Thomson RB Jr, McElvania E. Total Laboratory Automation: What Is Gained, What Is Lost, and Who Can Afford It?. Clin Lab Med. 2019;39(3):371-389. doi:10.1016/j.cll.2019.05.002. 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