title: Implementation of Epic Beaker Clinical Pathology at Stanford University Medical Center.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide an account of implementation of the Epic Beaker 2014 clinical pathology module at Stanford University Medical Center and highlight strengths and weaknesses of the system.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on a formal selection process, Stanford selected Epic Beaker to replace Sunquest as the clinical laboratory information system (LIS). The rationale included integration between the LIS and already installed Epic electronic medical record (EMR), reduction in the number of systems and interfaces, and positive patient identification (PPID). The build was significantly customized and included a first of its kind Epic-to-Epic interface. This was due to the clinical laboratory serving two hospitals (pediatric and adult) with independent instances of Epic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Test turnaround times showed improvement from historical baselines, mostly because of the implementation of PPID. PPID also resulted in significant reduction in mislabeled specimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epic 2014 Beaker clinical pathology is a viable LIS with adequate functionality for a large academic center. Strengths include PPID and integration with the EMR. Integration provides laboratory users with ready access to the patient's relevant clinical history to assist releasing of results and gives physician and nurse providers sophisticated add-on ordering and specimen collection workflows. Areas that could use further development include specimen aliquoting, quality control reporting, and maintenance tools.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Brent T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of IT, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fralick
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Laboratory Systems & Services, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Laboratory Systems & Services, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Cary
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schrandt
authors.affiliation: Department of IT, Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Vicki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Laboratory Systems & Services, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bruynell
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Laboratory Systems & Services, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christopher
authors.affiliation: Stanford Health Care, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D002140:California; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006801:Humans; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Electronic medical record; Health information system; Informatics; Laboratory information system; Positive patient identification (PPID); Turnaround time (TAT)