The patient can view the results of a lab test on their cell phone. There will be a table containing abbreviations, numbers, units and certain results that have been highlighted in red or bold. Does the color red mean bad? Does 'H' indicate that the results are very abnormal? What does 5.9 mean compared to the range of values that are considered 'normal'? Because there is nobody to provide answers to those questions, most patients follow the same path: they look for answers online, however they receive conflicting and/or alarming information and as a result contact either the lab or their doctor to report their concerns.
A lesser known problem associated with the use of diagnostic tests is that although laboratories spend significant resources on ensuring the accuracy of test results, the final product (i.e. the report) is usually designed for use by health care providers, and not necessarily for use by the individual who was tested.
Smart Reports are a way to close the gap between traditional reports and automated smart reporting. This guide, written specifically for lab owners, lab managers and operation heads, provides an overview of what Smart Reports are, how they can help your patients, the limitations of Smart Reporting and what to look for when selecting a laboratory software system that has Smart Reporting capabilities.
What Is an AI Smart Report?
The standard laboratory report contains the name of the test performed, the results obtained from performing the test, the unit of measurement used in the test, and the reference range (or normal range) for the tests. The AI-enhanced smart report contains all of the same components as a standard laboratory report, along with an additional layer of explanation. In addition, some AI-enhanced reports may include:
- A short, plain-language summary of the overall report
- Simple explanations of what each test measures
- Visual indicators that clearly indicate whether a measurement falls within the expected range, falls slightly below/above the expected range, or falls significantly outside the expected range.
- Trend charts comparing the current result with previous results
- The information provided about follow-up care and lifestyle is accurate, clear and does not provide a diagnosis.
- A clear note that the patient should discuss the report with their doctor
The goal is not to diagnose. Instead, the purpose is to create a well-written document that enables patients to go to their doctor's appointment knowing what is going on with them and not being afraid of it.
Why Patient Understanding Matters to Your Lab
- The patient's comprehension seems like it is the job of the doctor, not the lab. But, in fact, the patient's knowledge of what happens to them will also affect the lab.
- Less frequent inquiries from customers such as "What does this number mean?" will be made to front office and support personnel.
- A well written and thought out report will have an enduring affect on how patients view the way they received care.
- Patients are more likely to have confidence and loyalty to a laboratory if they feel the lab keeps them updated on things related to their health and treats them respectfully.
- The better patients understand their lab tests, the more likely they are to see their physician for follow-up and do something about the results.
- Patients are able to evaluate the quality of reports in a market that has competition.
- Reports generated by diagnostic laboratories are the primary materials that patients will receive at home. A report's readability is an indicator of the quality of the laboratory's service, rather than just a matter of aesthetics.
Common Problems with Traditional Reports
- Heavy use of abbreviations and medical terms
- Reference ranges without context, so a small deviation looks alarming
- No indication of what is urgent and what is minor
- No comparison with the patient’s own previous results
- Inconsistent formats across tests, departments, and branches
- Dense layouts that are hard to read on a phone
The problem we've been talking about is getting worse because people are using WhatsApp and email to send patients their test results to view on their phones.
How AI Smart Reports Help Patients
1.Plain-language summaries
Smart Reports may be introduced by a brief description (such as what is working well and what needs to be reviewed with your physician) so you do not need to review each item to determine whether or not you have a problem.
2.Explaining each test in simple terms
By providing a simple description (for example, explaining what hemoglobin does or what a lipid profile measures) of what a laboratory test is evaluating, you can help patients understand the significance of their lab test results.
3.Visual cues and clear flags
Using color coded indicators, range bars and other clearly defined indicators will allow patients to rapidly identify where they are relative to their data. Visual design is also an excellent alternative to using large quantities of text to describe something, and it will help to reduce the amount of confusion that patients experience.
4.Trend views over time
Individuals who have regular tests (such as individuals with diabetes that get their HbA1c checked, or individuals that monitor their thyroid function) can benefit from viewing past test results. Trends in testing can indicate what direction an individual's condition is moving in and how far along that individual is in managing their illness. One single test does not provide the same insight as a series of tests.
5.Context for borderline values
The slight deviation from the normal value is generally not an emergency. It's important to use very clear language to let patients know that the small deviations from the normal range are common, however, those small deviations must be brought up with a physician in order to assist the physician in putting those small deviations into context based upon all other relevant information. Using precise language will help eliminate any unnecessary worry and/or anxiety.
6.Multilingual support
The availability of reports in English, Hindi, or any other regional language allows for a larger patient population to access report results. The major barrier to understanding reports is the language.
7.Better support for doctors too
The use of reports which are well-organized, have clear trend lines and flags will make it possible to quickly review test results with referring doctors. This will help to improve the overall patient care process.
What AI Smart Reports Should Not Do
Trust is everything in diagnostics, so the boundaries need to be clear.
- Smart reports can give people an idea of how their results compare to others, but only a doctor can tell you what those results mean for your health.
- They do not recommend the best way to treat a condition, nor can they tell someone which type of prescription they should use. However, they may offer general suggestions about the way a person should live, but they are not permitted to recommend prescriptions.
- No amount of professional review can replace the need for professional validation. Validation of the results must take place before any explanations can be offered.
- They must create a true sense of security (or insecurity) for their users. Their language must be measured, reasonable, and consistent.
- Reports should always include a statement stating that patients should contact their primary care physician.
Labs using artificial intelligence-generated explanations will require that each lab's pathologist review the explanation templates to assess whether they are appropriate for describing the laboratory test results.
What Labs Should Check Before Adopting Smart Reports
- 1.The person reviewing the explanation is also responsible for approving the medical information submitted by an accredited professional.
- 2.Does anyone verify the AI-generated text that you use for communicating with patients? If someone verifies the accuracy of the AI-generated text used to communicate with patients, then the AI-generated text can be used with patients once the verification process is complete.
- 3.How is the information about the patient managed? Learn more about how the information is encrypted, who has access to the information, where the information is stored, and whether or not the information is used by other organizations outside of your organization.
- 4.Can you change your language and how it looks? Your lab's image (including its tone of voice and disclaimers) should be able to be changed.
- 5.Can you use this in your existing system? Most effectively, Smart Reports should be a part of your Laboratory Information System (LIS), and not a stand-alone application where you have to manually enter the information.
- 6.How am I going to get my reports? Search for delivery methods that use secure emails and WhatsApp. Also, look for report formats that can be easily read on mobile devices.
- 7.What languages are supported? Match them to your patient base.
- 8.How much am I going to be charged? Check whether the smart reports are included with your current subscription, or whether they are charged as an additional fee.
These questions are relevant whether you wish to buy pathology laboratory software for a single lab, or to acquire software for the management of a complete network of collection centers.
Smart Reports in the Bigger Picture of Lab Software
Smart reports do not work on their own. The success of all of the systems beneath them — accurate patient registration, reliable integration with your analyzer, validating results, and having a stable laboratory management system — will determine if smart reports are successful. If the data within the report is wrong, no matter how good the explanation of the data appears to be, it is only adding to the validity of the mistake.
Building a solid foundation for your laboratory is essential. To begin building this foundation, you should consider using a dependable laboratory management system, connecting all of your analyzers together, establishing clearly defined validation workflows, and developing electronic reporting capabilities. After creating this foundational layer, you may create an additional layer of "smart" reporting. For further information on where AI fits into the reporting process, please read our article on how AI-enabled laboratory software can improve the quality of diagnostic reporting.
Where MargLabz Fits
MargLabz developed the lab OS as a cloud-based AI-powered operating system that is tailored to meet the needs of pathology/diagnostic labs, collection centers, and growing networks. It offers all of the functionality needed to process registrations, billing, sample tracking, validation, and reporting within one platform. This allows for the development of a user-friendly reporting format for patients. MargLabz offers pricing starting at ₹999/month plus GST which gives small labs the opportunity to utilize the latest reporting technologies without investing large amounts of capital up front. Before you decide to use this product, you may want to request a demo and review examples of reports generated using this product with your pathologist.
A Simple Plan to Introduce Patient-Friendly Reports
- 1.Print a copy of your current report, and then read it through from the viewpoint of a patient. Do you have any difficulty understanding anything in this report?
- 2.Fix the basic requirements first. Standard formats, clear reference ranges, legible font types and sizes, and mobile-friendly designs.
- 3.Collaboratively work with your pathologists. Create a shared language that will allow both parties to explain test results and provide disclaimers.
- 4.Use of standard test panels to conduct pilot testing. For instance, the most frequently used tests include CBC (Complete Blood Count), Lipid Profile, Thyroid Function, and HbA1c (Glycated Hemoglobin).
- 5.Feedback Collection: Collect feedback from both the patients and the physicians regarding whether or not they find the reports clearer and/or more useful.
- 6.Take note of what will be affected by your observation. Focus on changes in the types of questions being asked by customers at the front desk, customer feedback, and the frequency of repeat visits.
- 7.Expand gradually. Add more tests, languages, and features as confidence grows.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting AI-generated text go out without pathologist-approved templates
- Using alarming or overly casual language
- Omitting the “consult your doctor” note
- Adding smart features on top of unreliable data
- Ignoring mobile readability
- Not checking data privacy and storage practices
- Overpromising to patients about what the report can do
Quick Checklist
- Current report reviewed from a patient’s point of view
- Plain-language summary and test explanations approved by a pathologist
- Clear visual flags and range indicators
- Trend view for repeat tests
- Doctor consultation note on every report
- Human validation before report release
- Secure delivery by email or WhatsApp
- Language options match your patient base
- Data privacy and storage confirmed
- Patient and doctor feedback collected
Final Thoughts
The laboratory report is much more than a document. It represents the period of time in which each person discovers where they stand with respect to their overall health. The diagnostic laboratories have many opportunities to make the process of delivering the reports more clear, peaceful and beneficial for all parties involved.
The smart reports that are generated by the AI do not change the actual results of the lab tests you ordered, but they do change how patients view their lab test results. Smart reports allow patients to understand their lab test results in a way that is easy to comprehend because of the accurate data provided from your laboratory and reviewed by your pathology department.
If you're interested in learning how your laboratory could begin to take steps toward operating like an enterprise-level laboratory, MargLabz has created a laboratory management system designed specifically for use by diagnostic and pathology laboratories, collection centers, and multi-location organizations. Pricing starts at ₹999/month plus GST.