Burnout in clinical and diagnostic laboratories was never a fringe issue – although many powerful players would have you believe otherwise. Some would even say that burnout in the laboratory space is equal to other industries. However, burnout in the clinical, medical, and commercial laboratory echo-system is it’s a full-blown crisis.
As demand grows and lab teams shrink, many professionals are left shouldering the burden of outdated systems and manual processes. According to a 2023 Siemens Healthineers and Harris Poll survey, 3 in 4 lab professionals say they lack the resources to handle their workload, and nearly 40% cite limited staffing as their greatest challenge.
However, to reduce burnout (which, in itself, can lead to severe consequences – not to mention financial losses), labs can start using the tool of the future. In fact, it’s not a tool anymore, and it certainly is not from the future, as labs that aren’t using Lab Information Systems (LIS) automation are simply living in the past.
Now, let’s make sense of it all:
Where LIS Automation Steps In
Labs today still rely on surprisingly manual workflows – from hand-labeling samples to manually entering test results into spreadsheets or electronic health records. These tasks eat up hours of productive time each day and expose labs to costly mistakes. Something as simple as mislabeling a sample or mistyping a result can have ripple effects across patient care, reporting, and regulatory compliance.
An LIS steps in to take over these time-consuming and repetitive duties. Modern LIS platforms are designed to automate lab workflows such as sample tracking, order management, test scheduling, and result verification. Automating these steps doesn’t just save time – it builds a safer, more traceable system for labs to operate in.
According to the Journal of Pathology Informatics, implementing an LIS can lead to significant improvements in laboratory productivity and the reliability of diagnostic results.
Less Manual Work = Minimum Burnout
The psychological impact of automation can’t be overstated. When routine tasks don’t bog down lab professionals, they’re able to engage with more fulfilling aspects of their work – whether it’s troubleshooting complex cases, mentoring younger colleagues, or improving workflows.
LIS automation and customizations not only decrease stress but also enhance precision, reducing the frequency of errors caused by fatigue or distraction. Remember history class, where our teacher talked about the Industrial Revolution? How many lives has it changed? How did life expectancy get immediately updated, and how did people discover new and improved ways to work and live?
Yep, same thing. Lab automation is basically just that.
Automation with a Human Touch
As labs grow or expand into new diagnostic fields, adding more manual steps simply isn’t sustainable. LIS automation provides scalability by standardizing processes and eliminating bottlenecks. This means labs can manage more samples, more tests, and more patients without increasing headcount or compromising quality. In high-volume environments, it’s often the difference between sustainable growth and complete staff burnout.
Critically, LIS automation doesn’t remove the need for human expertise – it amplifies it. With technology handling the routine, lab professionals can apply their judgment, knowledge, and clinical insight where it matters most. In this way, LIS isn’t replacing the human element – it’s protecting it.
When labs are empowered with tools, such as LabOS, that reduce friction and fatigue, the entire healthcare system benefits.
➡️ RECLAIM YOUR LAB’S TIME
