title: [Actual situation and problems in the information office of clinical laboratories; questionnaire surveys of central laboratories of university hospitals].
abstract: The laboratory tests supplied by clinical laboratory comprise an increasing volume in most hospitals. Consultation and effective utilization of laboratory data are important aspects of evidence-based medicine. Effective utilization of laboratory data will also contribute to the efficiency of hospital practice. Questionnaire surveys were conducted to investigate the actual situation in the information office of clinical laboratories in national, public and private facilities of 80 medical universities in Japan. Few facilities demonstrated efficient functioning, although information offices had been opened in six national, one public, and four private universities. The office staff received many questions on specimen handling and analytical methods. In the future, the office will be expected to be actively involved in mutual communications with clinical physicians and an information system such as computerized web is anticipated. Furthermore, a full-time laboratory physician and technicians are expected to provide support as experts in patient diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Gifu College of Medical Technology.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000592:standards*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D006785:Hospitals, University; D007564:Japan; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires