The Need for the API Strategic Summit - Part 2 of 2

For part two of this blog, I have incorporated data from the API Strategic Summit committee, chaired by J. Mark Tuthill, MD.

Right now, for reasons both understandable and not, the federal government has been focusing on meaningful use and certification of Electronic Health Records (EHRs).  It would seem that laboratory information systems (LISs) have largely been left out of this equation, seemingly relegated to merely a data feeder to the EHR.  Under current regulations, the only way to "certify" an LIS is when it is a module within an EHR.  Regardless of where a LIS sits (either as an EHR module or a independent system), the importance of high quality and highly-specialized laboratory systems cannot be over-emphasized.  

The API Strategic Summit will take place June 7-8, 2012, in Pittsburgh, PA.  It is entitled "The Future of the LIS and Pathology Informatics in the Era of the EMR".  During the summit, we will address the following questions:

• What is the value of the LIS to pathology departments and how is it documented and demonstrated? How to improve the inadequate understanding on the part of hospital CMIOs and CIOs of clinical labs operations and functionality requirements of the LIS?
• How can Departments of Pathology work together on information standards (and mandates) that affect Pathology?

We have commitments from major LIS corporations to attend this meeting.  This is an unparalleled opportunity to strategize with multiple vendors at the table on how we can ensure our collective ability to provide patients and providers with the most up-to-date, accurate, rapid and safe laboratory testing through our LISs.  

Interested parties should contact Nova Smith with the Association of Pathology Informatics for information on how you can attend the summit.  I hope to see you there.