New features synchronize automation workflow, expand connectivity
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics announces enhancements to its CentraLink™ Data Management System, a proven lab process management solution that consolidates patient and quality-control data from multiple instruments and provides centralized control over critical lab processes. New functionality synchronizes automation workflow to increase efficiency and quality, as well as expands connectivity.
Today’s fast-paced clinical laboratories – striving to meet the needs of clinicians who depend daily on accurate information from in vitro diagnostic tests – remain challenged to increase efficiency, improve productivity and do more with less. This often results from the continued reliance on manual processes and different, disconnected IT systems. CentraLink helps laboratories overcome the hurdles caused by lack of IT system integration by serving as a single communication link between the laboratory information system (LIS), instruments, automation system(s) and multiple users within the central laboratory or across multiple locations.
Siemens’ latest CentraLink version (v14) builds upon these benefits by delivering expanded connectivity to multiple LIS, plus the Bio-Rad Unity System. It also can now detect if an instrument connected to an automation track is offline, and will automatically re-route samples to another available instrument, thereby contributing to improved turnaround time. Enhanced workflow is achieved via a new automated sample status feature that tracks arriving samples in real time, enabling labs to create custom counters (such as those for tropinin) for faster results. Managing lab processes is also easier, thanks to proactive quality control (QC) alerts that flag QCs set to expire. Plus, CentraLink v14 can be customized per end user, speeding up system access and supporting error reduction among staff.
“CentraLink is a huge advantage – one interface across all instruments,” said Marilyn Leonard, Laboratory Manager, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, N.Y. “The new version is overall more efficient, and we’ve been able to improve turnaround time, which the clinicians, especially those in the emergency department, really appreciate.”
For more information on CentraLink Data Management System, please visit: www.siemens.com/centralink.
CentraLink v14 reflects Siemens’ continuing innovation leadership, which is a goal of the recently launched Siemens Agenda 2013 program: an initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness.
Launched recently, Siemens Agenda 2013 program is a two-year global initiative to further strengthen the Healthcare Sector's innovative power and competitiveness. Specific measures will be implemented in four fields of action: Innovation, Competitiveness, Regional Footprint, and People Development.
The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 51,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2011 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.5 billion euros and profit of around 1.3 billion euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.
