A&I Custom EHR Automates 95% of Lab Order Processing
How A&I Solutions automated lab ordering, electronic transmission, and results processing to reduce manual work and improve laboratory workflow efficiency across 13 clinics.
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Automating laboratory workflows inside the EHR
The client is a U.S.-based multi-specialty outpatient provider group generating a high volume of laboratory orders across multiple clinic locations. Lab ordering and results processing relied heavily on manual handoffs between the EHR, laboratory systems, reference labs, and staff.
Providers entered orders that staff frequently re-entered into laboratory systems, while results returned through faxes, portals, or manual entry. This created delays, duplicate data entry, and limited visibility into outstanding orders and results.
To address these issues, the client engaged A&I Solutions to automate lab order processing within its EHR, from computerized order entry through electronic transmission, laboratory processing, results return, and reconciliation.
Replacing manual laboratory handoffs with automation
The Challenge
- Lab orders required manual re-entry between the EHR and laboratory systems.
- Results returned through multiple channels and were manually entered into the patient record.
- Providers and staff lacked real-time visibility into order status and delayed results.
Our Solution
- Implemented computerized provider order entry for laboratory tests.
- Connected laboratories through HL7-based electronic interfaces and LOINC mapping.
- Added real-time order tracking, automated reconciliation, and exception handling.
Standards-based architecture for automated lab processing
A&I Solutions developed the laboratory workflow on Microsoft Azure using React, .NET Core, Azure SQL, HL7 v2.x, FHIR R4, LOINC, SMART on FHIR, Azure API Management, OAuth 2.0, RBAC, and SSO.
Custom EMR development for automated lab workflows
A&I Solutions enhanced the client’s custom EMR by replacing manual laboratory handoffs with structured electronic ordering and automated results processing. The platform connected providers, laboratory systems, and the EHR through standards-based interfaces, reducing duplicate entry while giving staff greater visibility into outstanding orders. Through the A&I Solutions implementation, the project demonstrates how custom EMR development can automate high-volume clinical workflows while maintaining secure, structured data exchange.
1. Computerized lab order entry
A&I Solutions introduced structured laboratory ordering directly within the EHR.
The platform included:
- Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE)
- Standards-coded laboratory tests
- Order sets for commonly requested panels
- Order validation at entry
Structured order entry captured information at the source, eliminating handwritten orders and reducing the need for staff to re-enter test information.
2. Automated lab interfaces and results management
The solution connected ordering, laboratory processing, and results management into one workflow.
HL7 v2.x ORM messages transmitted orders electronically to laboratory systems, while ORU messages returned results to the EHR.
LOINC coding standardized laboratory tests and results, allowing returned information to be stored in a consistent structure.
Real-time status tracking gave providers and staff visibility into where each order was in the process.
Delayed or missing results were flagged automatically, with exception queues directing only the orders requiring manual attention to staff.
Microsoft Azure, OAuth 2.0, RBAC, SSO, encrypted data storage and transmission, and HIPAA-compliant audit logging supported secure laboratory data exchange across all clinic locations.