ARUP Laboratories Joins Forces with ELLKAY to Enhance Health System Lab Operations

In a significant move to boost healthcare efficiency, ARUP Laboratories, a national leader in diagnostic and precision medicine, has partnered with ELLKAY, a prominent figure in healthcare connectivity. This collaboration is set to revolutionize laboratory outreach operations, enabling easier access to lab testing and results for health systems.

Hospital labs play a crucial role in patient care, facilitating numerous tests that are integral to diagnosis and treatment. However, these labs frequently face challenges in interconnecting with different healthcare systems such as provider offices, electronic health records (EHRs), and billing departments. The partnership aims to overcome these hurdles through the deployment of LKOrbit, a cutting-edge laboratory enterprise platform designed by ELLKAY.

LKOrbit promises to transform the existing fragmented healthcare process by enabling electronic orders, streamlining results delivery, and simplifying reimbursement workflows. This system is especially targeted towards easing the burdens that health systems often encounter in setting up outreach operations, such as integrating testing orders directly into the EHRs. Once implemented, this allows for seamless communication back and forth between the healthcare providers and the laboratory.

Sandy Richman, MBA, C(ASCP), Director of ARUP Healthcare Advisory Services, emphasized the significance of connectivity solutions in modern healthcare, stating that the integration of direct ordering and results delivery into EHRs is essential for efficient operations.

The cloud-based nature of LKOrbit facilitates a rapid transition of provider workflows, making the ordering of tests and receipt of results much faster. Moreover, it aims to maximize revenue for health systems by ensuring clinical and demographic information flows smoothly for accurate billing. The platform is scalable and adaptable, allowing it to accommodate the specific needs of various health systems regardless of volume, budget, or demographic.

Kevin Swallow, ARUP Director of the Client Relations Division, pointed out that both ARUP and ELLKAY are committed to a patient-centered approach, where timely delivery of accurate information to physicians can significantly enhance patient safety and treatment efficacy.

Ajay Kapare, President and Chief Strategy Officer of ELLKAY, highlighted the shared objectives of the two organizations in solving interoperability challenges and their joint commitment to empowering health systems with advanced interoperability capabilities.

This partnership not only signifies a technological advancement in healthcare but also resonates with ARUP’s broader mission. Founded in 1984 as a non-profit enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology, ARUP Laboratories has been a frontrunner in offering comprehensive testing services, from routine screening tests to complex genetic assays. The alliance with ELLKAY is poised to bolster ARUP’s service offerings, enabling it to support health systems in expanding their outreach operations and enhancing profitability.

As healthcare continues to evolve, the focus on integrated systems and efficient data exchange is becoming increasingly crucial. The ARUP-ELLKAY partnership is a testament to the ongoing innovations in the healthcare sector aimed at bettering patient care through enhanced laboratory services and connectivity solutions.