New laboratory system saves hospital mountains of paper
New computer software being implemented at North Shore Hospital’s laboratory will not only allow speedier treatment of
patients, but will save the hospital a mountain of paper - about eight reams a day.
The Web Éclair electronic sign-off system, part of a wider CIS (Clinical Information System) Project, will this week
replace paper reporting of laboratory results.
Instead of waiting for results to be printed out on paper and sent to them, clinicians will be able to view and sign-off
laboratory results online using hospital PCs.
Laboratory clinical director Dr Ross Henderson says the new system has clear advantages.
“Results can be reviewed and actioned faster electronically instead of having to wait for a paper copy to be sent to
where the clinician or patient is located at the time. If other clinicians are involved in the care of a patient, then
results can be copied to them.
“The system can also help reduce clinical risk by tracking results, identifying who has logged on to view the
information, what action was taken and whether the results were referred to other clinicians. This will be of particular
benefit in the emergency care centre where the sign-off process will be much easier than in the past.”
Dr Henderson says because the system is web based, results can also be viewed on PCs in other district health boards
too.
“Many doctors work for more than one hospital throughout Auckland. If they need to check on a laboratory result when
working at another hospital, they will be able to do so simply by logging into the system.”
The other major benefit is that electronic sign-off is supported by other web-based applications such as PiMS (patient
information management system) and digital radiology.
“We are now at the stage where a clinician can view demographics, x-rays and laboratory results all at the click of a
button,” says Dr Henderson.