Letters to the Editor

Extract

RE: CLIN LAB SCI 21(1) FO DELWICHE

April 8, 2008

I was pleasantly surprised to see the FOCUS article series on Informatics in the Winter 2008 edition of Clinical Laboratory Science. The articles about Medline and PUBMED, as well the performance of literature searches on research study methodologies and clinical laboratory science materials, are helpful for utilizing external information resources in a supportive manner. These are just a few of many ways that Internet-based resources can aid the clinical laboratory science field and patient care in general.

The introduction by Dr. Wilcke about “Finding the Knowledge in Information” is the key for clinical laboratory professionals. Our profession generates about 70%-80% of the information contained in the electronic medical record depending on which article is quoted. This information is also utilized by the physician in clinical decision making in the provision of patient care. As laboratory professionals who generate the data via testing methods, we are trained to know what factors impact the information process in order to produce high quality laboratory data and information. These factors may occur in the specimen collection process, laboratory analyses, in the reporting process, or within the instrumentation and computer systems used to produce laboratory data. Many other healthcare professionals do not fully understand how a little deviation in any part of this highly regulated process can produce a significant impact on the information utilized for patient care. Furthermore, since accreditation agencies are even more scrupulous about quality and safety, detail oriented laboratory professionals are…