Unlocking Value in Laboratory Data

A recurring theme at G2’s 35th annual Lab Institute conference (Washington D.C.; Oct. 25-27) was the central role laboratory data can play in the health care system’s shift to value-based care. This data can play a prominent role in managing patient care, particularly for high-risk and noncompliant patients.

Laboratory data is “extremely valuable,” especially when mined through artificial intelligence applications. Speakers from several commercial information technology (IT) systems demonstrated how providers, health care systems, pharmaceutical companies, and even payers are using laboratory data to identify high-risk patients and contain health care costs.

Mark Reis, from Prognos, shared how the company uses its registry of 11 billion clinical diagnostics records from 175 million patients to help laboratories understand real-time market-share information for specific tests; to aid pharmaceutical companies in targeting physician education; and to help payers with care management and risk assessment.

Philip Chen, Sonic Healthcare’s chief healthcare informatics officer, demonstrated how laboratory data can help influence the 97 percent of health care spend that occurs outside of the laboratory. The company’s Lab Expert System aids with population health management, but can also drive additional guideline-driven, testing to laboratories through clinical integration of longitudinal patient records. Such value-added tools enable laboratories to be a “health care partner,” rather than “just a lab.”

(Mark Reis is pictured in the center, with Philip Chen. They are being introduced by Steve Shumpert of Sonic Healthcare USA.)