Pathologists as stewards of laboratory information.
Just as electronic health records are transforming the practice of medicine and health care information management, practicing in the era of the electronic health record offers opportunities, if not imperatives, for pathologists to take on new and "transformative" professional and leadership roles for the organizations they serve. Experience indicates that clinicians will perceive pathologists and laboratories as responsible for all aspects of laboratory testing and information management, including order entry and results reporting, even though such functions may fall beyond the control of the laboratory. As described and expanded upon in the previous 4 articles of this series, the use of electronic health records dictates changes in how clinicians interact with laboratory information. In this environment, pathologists are uniquely positioned to act as the stewards for laboratory information in electronic health records and throughout health care organizations.
From the Center for Pathology Informatics, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio (Dr Henricks);
Walter H
WH
Henricks
Myra L
ML
Wilkerson
William J
WJ
Castellani
Mark S
MS
Whitsitt
John H
JH
Sinard
D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D010338:Pathology, Clinical; D010820:Physicians