Electronic lab reporting continues to climb

The number of hospitals sending electronic lab reports to public health agencies is increasing and is on track to meet future goals according to a progress update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The number of eligible hospitals participating in Meaningful Use that are sending electronic lab reports for notifiable conditions has gone from 62 percent in July 2013 to 67 percent in July 2014. 

Additionally, the number of hospital laboratories using the message format required by meaningful use when reporting clinical test results has more than doubled in that same time frame, going from fewer than 200 in July 2013 to 479 in July 2014.

The CDC estimates the implementation of electronic lab reporting will reach a target volume of 80 percent in 2016.

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

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