title: The evaluation of hospital laboratory information management systems based on the standards of the American National Standard Institute.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nowadays, modern laboratories are faced with a huge volume of information. One of the goals of the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) is to assist in the management of the information generated in the laboratory. This study intends to evaluate the LIMS based on the standards of the American National Standard Institute (ANSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This research is a descriptive-analytical study, which had been conducted in 2011, on the LIMSs in use, in the teaching and private hospitals in Isfahan. The data collecting instrument was a checklist, which was made by evaluating three groups of information components namely: 'System capabilities', 'work list functions,' and 'reporting' based on LIS8-A. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 20. Data were analyzed using (relative) frequency, percentage. To compare the data the following statistical tests were used: Leven test, t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the study indicated that the LIMS had a low conformity (30%) with LIS8-A (P = 0.001), with no difference between teaching and private hospitals (P = 0.806). The ANOVA revealed that in terms of conformity with the LIS8-A standard, there was a significant difference between the systems produced by different vendors (P = 0.023). According to the results, a Kowsar system with more than %57 conformity in the three groups of information components had a better conformity to the standard, compared to the other systems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated that none of the LIMSs had a good conformity to the standard. It seems that system providers did not pay sufficient attention to many of the information components required by the standards when designing and developing their systems. It was suggested that standards from certified organizations and institutions be followed in the design and development process of health information systems.
authors: Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Sakineh Saghaeiannejad
authors: SS
authors: Isfahani
authors: Medical Informatics Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, School of Management and Health Information Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
authors: Reza
authors: R
authors: Khajouei
authors: School of Medical Management and Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Maryan
authors: M
authors: Jahanbakhsh
authors: School of Medical Management and Informatics, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Mahboubeh
authors: M
authors: Mirmohamadi
keywords: Evaluation; Hospital information systems; laboratory information management systems; standard