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Lab Navigation Guide
This guide helps laboratory staff navigate the HMIS Lab module to perform daily laboratory operations. All features are accessed through the main Lab menu.
How to Access: Lab → Laboratory Dashboard
When to Use: Central interface for managing all laboratory operations
Note: This may be your default starting point when the system is configured to use the Laboratory Dashboard interface
How to Access:
- Lab → Billing → Lab Billing
- Lab → Billing → Package Billing
- Lab → Billing → Inpatient Billing
When to Use:
- Lab Billing: Standard outpatient laboratory test billing
- Package Billing: Billing for laboratory test packages or bundles
- Inpatient Billing: Adding laboratory services to inpatient bills
Important: Lab billing may require an active shift when the system is configured for shift-based operations.
How to Access: Lab → Billing → Billing for Cashier
When to Use: Creating bills that will be processed by cashier staff
How to Access:
- Lab → Billing Search → Lab Bill Search
- Lab → Billing Search → Lab Bill Item Search
- Lab → Billing Search → Search In-patient Bills
When to Use:
- Finding specific laboratory bills by various criteria
- Searching for individual test items within bills
- Locating laboratory services billed to inpatients
How to Access:
- Lab → Sample Management
- Lab → Worksheets
When to Use:
- Sample Management: Collecting and receiving patient samples
- Worksheets: Processing samples and entering test results
Note: Sample Management may be hidden when Laboratory Dashboard is the default interface.
How to Access:
- Lab → Report Management
- Lab → Report Search by Billing Department
When to Use:
- Report Management: Searching for tests ready for reporting and result entry
- Report Search: Finding patient reports by billing department for printing
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Performance → [Report Type]
Available reports include:
- Investigation List: Track test volumes and types
- Bill List: Monitor billing patterns
- Client List: Analyze client relationships
- Sample List: Review sample processing
- Turn Around Time: Monitor laboratory efficiency
- By Institution Reports: Performance by referring institutions
- By Department Reports: Performance by hospital departments
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Income → [Report Type]
Key income reports:
- Income Summary: Overall laboratory revenue
- Daily Summaries: Daily income tracking with various breakdowns
- Investigation Summaries: Revenue by test type and fee category
- Laboratory Card Income: Income from laboratory card holders
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Institutions → [Report Type]
When to Use: Analyzing laboratory usage patterns by referring institutions
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Collecting Centres → [Report Type]
Available reports:
- Detailed and summary reports by collection centre
- Investigation counts by collection centre
When to Use: Managing and monitoring off-site collection centres
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Referring Doctors → [Report Type]
When to Use: Tracking laboratory usage patterns by referring physicians
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Inward → [Report Type]
When to Use: Analyzing laboratory services provided to inpatients, including:
- Service summaries by date
- Margin analysis
- Investigation summaries
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Clinical → [Report Type]
Available reports:
- Test Results - Single: Individual test result analysis
- Test Results: Comprehensive test result reporting
When to Use: Clinical decision support and result trending
How to Access: Lab → Lab Analytics → Auditing → Bills Cancelled after Approving Reports
When to Use: Quality assurance and auditing of laboratory operations
- Access Laboratory Dashboard or Sample Management
- Review pending samples from previous day
- Check worksheet assignments
- Use Sample Management for new samples
- Process samples using Worksheets
- Enter results as tests are completed
- Use Report Management to find completed tests
- Generate and review reports
- Print or electronically distribute reports
- Run daily income summaries
- Check turn-around time reports
- Review pending samples and tests
Laboratory billing functions may require an active shift when the system is configured for shift-based operations. Ensure your shift is started before processing bills.
The system can be configured to use the Laboratory Dashboard as the primary interface. In this configuration:
- Sample Management may be hidden from the main menu
- Dashboard becomes the central hub for all operations
Different laboratory functions require specific user permissions. If you cannot access a feature, contact your system administrator to verify your user privileges.
Some reports have both legacy and optimized (DTO) versions:
- Use optimized versions when available for better performance
- System configuration determines which version is displayed
If you encounter issues:
- Verify you have appropriate permissions for the requested function
- Check if shift requirements are met for billing operations
- Ensure Laboratory Dashboard settings match your workflow needs
- Contact your system administrator for configuration or access issues
- Process samples promptly upon receipt
- Use barcode scanning when available
- Maintain proper chain of custody documentation
- Double-check critical values before releasing reports
- Follow laboratory protocols for result verification
- Maintain turnaround time standards
- Enter results accurately and completely
- Use appropriate units and reference ranges
- Flag abnormal results appropriately