Frequently Asked Questions About e-lab Solutions Connect

Transcription

1 Frequently Asked Questions About e-lab Solutions Connect Q: What is e-lab Solutions Connect? A: A CAP service that automatically and electronically transmits Surveys and EXCEL proficiency testing (PT) result data from a laboratory s automated instruments to the CAP s e-lab Solutions result fields without intervention. Q: Why use automated transmission? A: Laboratories want to perform and report PT results in the same way they report patient test results. Manual submission of PT data is the leading cause of clerical errors causing more test failures than actual testing errors. This process helps laboratories reduce full-time equivalent (FTE) time to input PT result data. Q: Why use middleware? A: The middleware approach allows for a quicker integration of electronic, system-to-system CAP PT data transmission. This eliminates the need to modify your laboratory information system (LIS), which could be risky and costly. The middleware approach facilitates the addition and/or subtraction of new PT products, laboratory tests changes to units of measure, and LOINC codes. Q: Why did CAP partner with Data Innovations (DI)? A: Data Innovations is the current market leader in laboratory middleware software allowing for larger market penetration. Q: What is LOINC? A: Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes

2 Q: Why use LOINC? A: LOINC is the accepted universal coding system standard for laboratory and other clinical observations reporting. The CAP has adopted LOINC to link a laboratory s PT test menu to the CAP s PT testing system, since it is the standard and will become required when reporting laboratory test results to various entities in the future. Q: Where do I get the list of LOINC codes? A: Currently the CAP provides the LOINC codes in a spreadsheet version. In future versions, the LOINC codes will be available directly from the CAP driver via CAP Web services within Instrument Manager (IM). Q: Does e-lab Solutions Connect work for all CAP Surveys? A: No, e-lab Solutions Connect currently works only with quantitative results. Additional PT challenges will be phased in over time.. Contact the CAP for the current list of challenges you may enter via e-lab Solutions Connect. Q: How can I be sure that none of my patient results get sent to the CAP? A: Through the required DI Specimen Manager module, Rules can be applied to filter PT data when ordered through the LIS system which directs only PT data to the CAP. The preferred method entails using the Patient First Name and Last Name fields to enter the PT kit number and specimen number. The specific CAP kit number/specimen number patterns should be sufficient to allow the defined rule to differentiate PT data from patient data and electronically transmit only the PT data to the CAP. (For example: First Name = [eight-digit numeric], Last Name = CHM-01 [two- to three-character alphanumeric followed by a dash followed by two digits]) Note: Your LIS System must support numeric and alphanumeric data entered in the first and last name fields.

3 Q: If my protocol states that I recheck a value over a certain limit and I have already sent the PT results through e-lab Solutions Connect, what can I do about it? A: Results can always be hand entered into e-lab Solutions even after they have been submitted via the e-lab Solutions Connect process. You can wait until the repeat results are off the instrument and then send them to e-lab Solutions Connect. The new results will overwrite the old results. Q: What do I do if my instrument is primary for some tests but secondary for others? A: Log the tests for which the instrument is primary first, set the instrument to primary in IM, and then run those tests. Once they have been transmitted to e-lab Solutions, log in the tests for which the instrument is secondary, set the instrument to secondary in IM, and then run those tests. Q: Calculated values, such as LDL, are calculated by my LIS and not IM. How do I get those values into e-lab Solutions? A: Results can always be hand entered into the e-lab Solutions even after they have been submitted via e-lab Solutions Connect. Q: Will I be able to review my PT results before the CAP accepts them? A: Yes; following current procedures, laboratories will be required to review their results, make any changes if necessary, and approve them in e-lab Solutions by the mailing due date. Q: Will methodology information be automatically transmitted in the electronic feed? A: No, methodology information will be auto-populated from the CAP database if the methodology information was provided to the CAP in a prior event for the identical PT product. If methodology information changes in your laboratory or a new test is performed, then you will be responsible for ensuring that the methodology information exists in e-lab Solutions.

4 Q: My IM rules automatically add messages to patient results under predefined conditions. Will this cause a problem with e-lab Solutions Connect? A: No, the numeric portion of the results will be entered into e-lab Solutions, and any message code or text added to the numeric portion will be disregarded. Q: What if I report a value I obtain that is less than my reportable range? A: If these values are reported with a less than ( < ) symbol, e-lab Solutions will recognize this symbol, automatically place the numeric portion in the appropriate spot, and fill in the < button on the e-lab Solutions form. Q: What if I report a value I obtain that is less than the reportable range and the e-lab Solutions form does not allow this option? A: If this happens with manual entry of results, you will need to call the CAP for instructions on how to report your results under these circumstances. Q: Do I need administrative rights to enter the LOINC code mapping or to designate a connection as a primary or secondary instrument? A: You will need local administrative rights in order to first access these features. Subsequent times that you access them from the same PC will not require local administrative rights. Q: What happens if the CAP website is unavailable when I am trying to send my data? A: The DI middleware has a retry setting that a laboratory can configure to resend PT data submissions 3 times. If the data is not accepted by the CAP website, then the DI connection will have an error associated to it after the number of configured retries has been exhausted.

5 Q: Are there other requirements from Data Innovations to initiate e-lab Solutions Connect? A: You must have the DI Instrument Manager Rules license in active status in order to perform the set-up required to begin transmissions.