[Histonet] Information Systems: Specimen Tracking & MiddleWare

[Michael Mihalik]

Good morning,

I was just at the Lab Infotech Summit in Las Vegas last week where the
subject of the conference was informatics in Anatomic and Clinical
Pathology.  Along with the usual seminars were the usual vendors in the
exhibitor's hall demonstrating and talking about their products and
services.

As one of those vendors, I had the opportunity to talk to a few people and a
general trend appeared to merge -- one which I would like to dispel, if
possible.

I'd like to make sure that everyone is aware that you do NOT have to have
middleware in order to have bar coded cassettes, slides, etc., and you do
NOT have to have middleware in order to have specimen/material tracking.
Let me explain.

If, on the one hand, you are quite content with your current information
system and you simply wish to add barcodes and specimen tracking and you do
not want to work with your information system vendor because either they
don't have this capability or for some other reason, then YES, middleware is
a viable alternative.

On the other hand, if you are planning to purchase a new Information System
for your laboratory, then by all means, DEMAND of your new vendor, the
ability to have barcoded everything and to have specimen tracking built into
your new information system.  There are lots of good reasons to have all
this capability in your information system and not in some middleware
product.  I'd be happy to discuss the reasons for my statements, but I've
taken up enough of everyone's time.  If you'd like to hear more, then
please, just ask.

I just thought everyone should know...




Michael Mihalik
PathView Systems | cell: 214.733.7688 | 800.798.3540 | fax: 270.423.0968