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2024100413:22:12

Streamlining Laboratory Workflows: Solving Referral Doctor Challenges 

Published by: Mohammed Siddiq

Introduction:

In today's healthcare landscape, laboratories often rely on referrals from doctors to drive patient volume. However, managing these referrals can be cumbersome, leading to potential errors, inefficiencies, and missed opportunities. The traditional workflow involving doctors, patients, and labs often lacks coordination, which can impact patient care and laboratory operations. This article explores the common problems faced by laboratories in handling referral doctors and how MocDoc’s Referral Doctor Portal provides an effective solution.

The Problem: Challenges in Managing Doctor Referrals

Laboratories face several challenges when working with referral doctors:

  1. Inefficient Communication: Marketing teams from labs reach out to local doctors to establish referral relationships. Doctors provide diagnostic forms to patients, but communication about tests can be unclear or inconsistent.
  2. Manual Data Entry: When patients arrive at the lab, their information is often entered manually, which can lead to errors. Patients must repeat their details, creating redundancy and frustration.
  3. Lack of Visibility: Labs have limited insight into how many patients each doctor is referring, making it difficult to follow up with patients who do not visit.
  4. Missed Revenue Opportunities: If a patient does not visit the lab, the lab loses potential revenue and the doctor misses out on commissions.
The Solution: MocDoc’s Referral Doctor Portal

MocDoc addresses these challenges by providing a Referral Doctor Portal, which simplifies the referral process and enhances communication between doctors and laboratories. Here’s how it works:

1. Simplified Referral Process 🏥

Problem: Inefficient communication leads to confusion in the referral process. Solution: The Referral Doctor Portal allows doctors to easily add patient information and specify tests.

Key Features:

  • Instant Patient Entry: Doctors can quickly enter the patient’s name and select the required tests in the portal.
  • Order Generation: Each referral creates an order that appears in the processing lab’s account, ensuring immediate visibility.
Benefit: This streamlined process eliminates communication gaps, making it easy for doctors to refer patients directly to the lab.

2. Real-Time Visibility for Labs 👀

Problem: Labs struggle to track referral activity. Solution: The portal enables labs to monitor referrals from multiple doctors.

Key Features:

  • External Doctor's Request Screen: Labs can view a list of all patients referred by doctors in real time.
  • Daily Tracking: This screen allows labs to identify how many patients each doctor has referred for a given day.
Benefit: Labs can proactively follow up with patients who haven’t yet visited, ensuring they do not miss out on potential tests and commissions.

3. Automated Patient Registration 📋

Problem: Manual data entry leads to errors and inefficiencies. Solution: When a patient arrives at the lab, their mobile number can be used to quickly locate their referral.

Key Features:

  • Mobile Number Search: Upon entering the patient’s mobile number, the lab can see if there’s an existing order request.
  • Quick Registration and Billing: If the number matches, the lab can instantly create a registration and billing entry, pulling in all required information automatically.
Benefit: This automation reduces manual typing, minimizes errors, and speeds up the registration process, enhancing the patient experience.

4. Improved Billing Accuracy 💵

Problem: Inaccurate billing can lead to revenue loss. Solution: The system ensures that all investigations requested by the doctor are billed correctly.

Key Features:

  • Auto-Generated Billing: All tests selected by the doctor are automatically included in the patient’s bill.
  • Consistent Pricing: The lab can apply the agreed commission structure for each referral, ensuring accurate compensation for the doctor.
Benefit: This functionality eliminates billing errors and ensures that doctors receive their commissions in a timely manner.

Conclusion: Enhancing Efficiency with MocDoc

MocDoc’s Referral Doctor Portal transforms the way laboratories manage their relationships with referral doctors. By simplifying the referral process, providing real-time visibility, automating patient registration, and ensuring accurate billing, MocDoc effectively addresses the common challenges faced in laboratory workflows.

This integrated solution not only improves operational efficiency but also enhances collaboration between doctors and laboratories, ultimately leading to better patient care and increased revenue opportunities. For labs looking to streamline their referral processes and improve their operations, MocDoc offers a robust and user-friendly solution.

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Introduction

Accreditation in laboratory testing assures patients and regulatory bodies of a lab’s commitment to accuracy and quality. However, not every test in a lab may be accredited. MocDoc’s new feature addresses this by allowing labs to display accreditation marks selectively, based on each test’s accreditation status. This innovative feature helps labs enhance the credibility of accredited tests without confusing unaccredited tests, making reports clearer and more reliable.

Key Challenges Addressed by Selective Accreditation

In the context of a busy laboratory, displaying accreditation across all tests can lead to misinterpretation. Labs need a way to differentiate between accredited and non-accredited tests, especially in reports where multiple types of tests are displayed together. MocDoc’s solution brings precision to lab reporting by introducing selective accreditation display options, allowing the lab to display accreditation details accurately and clearly.

Introducing MocDoc’s Selective Accreditation Display Feature

The new selective accreditation feature in MocDoc enables labs to:

  • Specify Accreditation Per Test: Labs can mark specific tests as accredited with logos and details, ensuring an accurate representation of accreditation status.
  • Map Accreditation Type and Date: For each test, labs can define the type of accreditation (e.g., NABL, CAP) and the date the accreditation was granted.
  • Configure Display Location: Customize where and how accreditation logos appear on the lab report, with options for individual test-level logos or grouped accredited test sections.
How the Feature Works

  1. Mapping Accreditation in Test Masters In the Test Masters section, each test has an Accreditation field. Here, labs can: Select the accreditation type for a test (e.g., Enable Accreditation, CAP Accreditation). Enter the accreditation start date, which activates the accreditation logo on reports from that date forward.
  2. Displaying Accreditation Logos Once accreditation information is mapped: Individual Test Logo Display: Enabling the "Include Enable Logo" option in Print Configuration displays the accreditation logo next to each accredited test name on the lab report. For example, if there are ten tests, and four are accredited, those four will show the logo next to their names, clearly distinguishing accredited tests from others. Grouped Accreditation Display: For labs that prefer a grouped view, accredited tests can be displayed in a separate section. This feature: Groups accredited tests and prints them together, followed by a separate section for non-accredited tests. Displays the accreditation logo in the report’s top right or bottom left corner (as per configuration), highlighting the accreditation for the relevant section.
  3. Handling Profiles with Mixed Accreditation Status In cases where a profile (e.g., Complete Blood Count) includes multiple investigations with mixed accreditation statuses: The accredited investigations within the profile are grouped with other accredited tests, and the accreditation logo is displayed. Non-accredited tests in the profile are grouped with other non-accredited tests, ensuring a clear distinction.
Configuration Options for Display

MocDoc offers flexible configuration options for displaying the accreditation logo:

  • Logo Placement: The accreditation logo can appear either at the top right or bottom left of the accredited section.
  • Test-Level vs. Section-Level Display: Labs can choose to display logos next to individual test names or group accredited tests together for section-level logos, providing a professional, organized report format.
Key Benefits of MocDoc’s Selective Accreditation Display

  1. Enhanced Report Clarity: Clear distinction between accredited and non-accredited tests ensures accurate information for patients, doctors, and auditors.
  2. Customization and Flexibility: Labs can configure where and how accreditation logos appear, matching their report style and accreditation requirements.
  3. Efficient Validation and Compliance: Labs can easily validate the accreditation status of each test, ensuring compliance with standards without manual checks.
  4. Improved Patient Trust: By showcasing accredited tests, labs enhance transparency, helping patients trust in the accuracy and quality of their diagnostics.
Conclusion

MocDoc’s selective accreditation display feature enables labs to represent their accredited tests accurately and professionally on lab reports, distinguishing between accredited and non-accredited tests. With this feature, laboratories can maintain clarity, compliance, and credibility in their reporting processes, ultimately enhancing both operational efficiency and patient trust.

Elevate Lab Reporting Sta...

IntroductionAccreditation in laboratory testing assures patie.....

Published by: Mohammed Siddiq 2024111318:24:08

In line with Indian government regulations, any cash transaction exceeding ₹2 lakhs requires the collection of the payer’s PAN card number. This is a critical step to ensure transparency, reduce tax evasion, and maintain financial compliance.

MocDoc has now introduced a new feature that automates this validation process, ensuring that your billing system remains compliant with the law without adding extra steps for your team.

Understanding the Regulation

As per the Indian government's regulation (Section 269ST of the Income Tax Act), any person who receives an amount of ₹2 lakhs or more in cash in a single transaction must collect the Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the payer. This regulation is aimed at preventing large cash transactions that may otherwise go untracked, ensuring a higher level of financial transparency.

Non-compliance with this regulation can lead to penalties, making it essential for businesses that handle high-value transactions to implement systems that facilitate the proper collection of PAN information.
 
MocDoc's New Feature: Automatic PAN Validation for Large Cash Transactions

To support compliance with this regulation, MocDoc has introduced a new feature designed to ensure that PAN details are collected when necessary. Here’s how the feature works:

1. Automated PAN Card Prompt for Cash Transactions Over ₹2 Lakhs

MocDoc now includes a validation mechanism for cash transactions exceeding ₹2 lakhs. When the cash amount in any transaction crosses this threshold, the system will automatically prompt the end user to input the payer's PAN card number. This ensures that the necessary information is collected before the transaction can proceed.

2. Simplified Workflow for End Users

The system’s prompt makes it easy for end users to comply with the regulation. The user simply needs to enter the payer’s PAN card number when requested. If the amount is under ₹2 lakhs, no additional steps are required, keeping the process as efficient as possible for smaller transactions.

3. Error Prevention and Legal Compliance

This feature helps prevent manual errors or oversights that could occur if PAN information is not collected. By making the PAN field mandatory for high-value cash transactions, MocDoc ensures that your organization remains compliant with Indian regulations and avoids potential penalties.

4. Benefits of the PAN Validation Feature

  • Legal Compliance: By collecting PAN details for large cash transactions, your hospital or lab stays compliant with Section 269ST of the Income Tax Act.
  • Automated Process: MocDoc eliminates the need for manual checks, ensuring that no cash transaction over ₹2 lakhs is processed without PAN information.
  • Enhanced Accuracy: This feature minimizes the risk of human error and ensures that all necessary information is captured.
  • Streamlined Billing: The validation process is seamless, with minimal disruption to your billing workflow.
Why Is This Feature Important?

With growing regulatory scrutiny over large cash transactions, this feature helps businesses avoid legal complications and fines. Compliance with Section 269ST is mandatory, and failing to collect PAN details could result in penalties amounting to the total amount of the transaction.

By integrating this feature into MocDoc, users can rest assured that their billing processes will adhere to all necessary legal standards, improving the transparency and integrity of their financial operations.

Conclusion

MocDoc’s new PAN validation feature is a significant step toward ensuring that your hospital or lab complies with Indian government regulations for large cash transactions. By automating the collection of PAN card details for transactions over ₹2 lakhs, MocDoc helps you avoid potential legal issues while streamlining your billing processes.

This feature is part of MocDoc's ongoing commitment to provide healthcare institutions with tools that improve efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. Stay ahead of regulatory requirements with MocDoc's advanced features, designed to support your success.

Ensuring Compliance with ...

In line with Indian government regulations, any cash transact.....

Published by: Mohammed Siddiq 2024101517:50:57

Introduction

Pathology laboratories handle a wide range of sample types, each requiring unique protocols for accurate analysis. In contrast to clinical pathology tests (like biochemistry or hematology) which are often processed quickly with automated analyzers, Anatomical pathology investigations, such as histopathology and cytopathology, require multiple, meticulous stages before reaching the result entry stage. Recognizing the complexity of these workflows, MocDoc has introduced the Staged Process Tracking feature for Anatomical pathology. This feature enables labs to track each essential process step with precision, ensuring quality control and timely processing for complex investigations.

Challenges in Managing Anatomical Pathology Workflows

For clinical pathology, samples like blood or urine can be analyzed and reported quickly. However, for complex cases in histopathology and cytology, a range of steps must be completed to prepare and analyze the specimen. Challenges specific to these cases include:

  1. Multi-Step Workflows: Multiple stages—grossing, embedding, slicing, and staining—are required for accurate results.
  2. Tracking Each Process: Monitoring each of these steps can be time-consuming, particularly when handling multiple samples concurrently.
  3. Maintaining Quality and Accountability: Each stage in the workflow must be documented and completed to ensure the highest quality and accuracy in test results.
Introducing MocDoc’s Staged Process Tracking Feature

MocDoc’s Staged Process Tracking option offers a solution tailored for these multi-step pathology workflows. This feature allows pathology labs to define and monitor each process required for complex sample analysis, from initial preparation to the final observation. By configuring the Enable Stages option in the test master, labs can structure an efficient and organized workflow for these cases, ensuring a smooth transition through each stage.

How the Feature Works

  1. Enable Stages Configuration: Labs activate the "Enable Stages" option within the test master to identify investigations needing multi-step tracking.
  2. Defining Process Stages: Lab managers can define each critical step within the workflow. Stages might include: Cassette-Making Grossing (Initial examination of the specimen) Specimen Processing (Preparation for further analysis) Embedding in Wax (Preparation for slicing) Slicing and Slide Preparation Staining and Mounting
  3. Staged Orders Screen: Following sample collection, investigations appear in the Staged Orders screen, where each predefined stage must be completed before the investigation advances to result entry. This ensures that every required process is tracked and completed in sequence.
  4. Final Result Entry: Once all stages are marked complete, the sample becomes available on the result entry screen for the technician to record and save findings.
Key Benefits of Staged Process Tracking

  1. Organized Workflow: The structured staging process keeps complex pathology investigations organized, with each step clearly documented.
  2. Enhanced Accountability: Designating each stage to specific personnel adds accountability, minimizing errors and ensuring accuracy.
  3. Real-Time Process Tracking: The Staged Orders screen enables seamless tracking of each step, allowing team members to easily view and update sample progress.
  4. Optimized Patient Care: By providing precise, consistent results, MocDoc’s staging feature ensures that patients receive high-quality diagnostics without delays.
Conclusion

MocDoc’s Staged Process Tracking feature for Anatomical pathology brings organization and control to complex investigations, transforming the way laboratories handle multi-step procedures in histopathology and cytology. By incorporating a structured approach to sample management, this feature enhances both operational efficiency and patient care, providing labs with a valuable tool for maintaining high standards in diagnostic quality.

Streamlining Anatomical P...

IntroductionPathology laboratories handle a wide range of sam.....

Published by: Mohammed Siddiq 2024111314:26:55

Introduction:

Managing samples and tracking lab reports efficiently is a core challenge for laboratories, especially when dealing with multiple B2B associates like smaller labs, hospitals, and clinics. Traditional methods of manual documentation, order handling, and sample tracking create inefficiencies, leading to mistakes in patient registration, miscommunications, or even loss of samples and delays in report approvals. These challenges result in increased turnaround times, missed revenue opportunities, and strain on lab resources.

In this article, we explore the problems processing labs face when handling B2B sample transfers and lab reports, and how MocDoc’s B2B Order Request Portal provides an integrated solution that streamlines the entire lifecycle—from sample collection to report approval and tracking—reducing errors and boosting operational efficiency.

The Problem: Inefficiencies in B2B Sample Transfers and Report Tracking

Laboratories commonly encounter several key challenges while dealing with B2B associates, including:

1) Complex and Manual Data Entry: B2B labs, clinics, or hospitals traditionally rely on manual methods for registering patients, filling in test requests, and generating bills. These paper-based or standalone systems lead to:

  • Human error in patient registration and order creation. 
  • Duplicate entries, creating inconsistencies between B2B centers and processing labs. 
  • Delayed communication between the B2B center and the processing lab, resulting in extended turnaround times.
2) Inconsistent Sample Collection and Delivery: Coordination between the processing lab’s runner and the B2B centers can be highly disorganized: 

  • Lack of proper tracking for Test Requisition Forms (TRFs) and samples.
  • Miscommunication or missing samples due to unverified data during collection.
  • Damaged samples due to inadequate tracking from collection to delivery.
3) Billing Errors: Different B2B centers have varying rate plans based on their agreements with the processing labs. Without a streamlined system to apply the correct tariffs, billing errors can occur:

  • Incorrect rate plans applied to patient orders.
  • Revenue losses due to billing inconsistencies and undercharging.
4) Delayed Patient Registration and Lab Report Tracking: Processing labs need to re-enter patient information after verifying samples, delaying the registration and billing process. This not only increases the workload but also impacts:

  • Overall sample processing time. Billing bottlenecks due to late registration.
  • Inefficient report tracking with delays in communicating report statuses between the B2B centers and the processing lab.
The Solution: MocDoc’s B2B Order Request Portal

MocDoc’s B2B Order Request Portal addresses these pain points by integrating every step of the B2B sample transfer process and lab report tracking into a single platform. Here’s how it solves the above issues:

1. Simplified Data Entry & Order Requests 🧾

Problem: Manual entry and inconsistent data. 

Solution: The B2B login portal allows B2B associates to directly enter patient information, select tests, and raise an order request digitally.

Key Features:

  • Patient Registration: B2B centers can input basic patient information through the portal, ensuring that all data is accurately captured.
  • Investigation Requests: B2B centers select the required investigations from a pre-configured list, eliminating the risk of errors.
  • TRF Generation 📋: For each patient, a Test Requisition Form (TRF) is automatically generated, streamlining the process of creating detailed records for sample transfers.
Benefit: Reduces manual errors, saves time, and ensures consistency across B2B centers and the processing lab.

2. Streamlined Sample Collection and TRF Management 🚚

Problem: Disorganized sample collection and lack of proper tracking.

Solution: The runner, equipped with a mobile application, receives exclusive credentials and can mark TRFs as received at each B2B center.

Key Features:

  • Runner’s Role: Runners track the receipt of TRFs and samples in real-time using their mobile app. Every sample is logged and accounted for.
  • Batch Collection: Runners collect TRFs and samples in batches from different B2B centers, reducing the likelihood of sample mismanagement.
  • Live Status Updates 📱: As the runner collects samples from B2B centers, the processing lab receives real-time updates on TRF and sample status, improving transparency.
Benefit: Enhanced tracking ensures that no samples are misplaced or damaged during transfer, increasing accountability and sample integrity.

3. Automated Patient Registration and Billing 💳

Problem: Manual patient registration and inconsistent billing. 

Solution: In the processing lab, the Accession Department can register patients and generate bills in just one click.

Key Features:

  • Patient Auto-Registration: Using the information entered by B2B centers, the processing lab can quickly register the patient upon sample arrival, avoiding data duplication.
  • Rate Plan Mapping 🧮: Each B2B associate is assigned a specific rate plan based on their agreement with the processing lab. Upon patient registration, the system automatically applies the correct tariff to the bill.
  • Quick Billing: Bills are generated instantly upon patient registration, ensuring accurate and timely invoicing for the B2B centers.
Benefit: This feature eliminates billing errors, ensures fair pricing, and significantly reduces registration and billing time.

4. Sample Verification & Processing ✅

Problem: Errors during sample verification and processing delays. 

Solution: Samples are verified against the TRF, and discrepancies such as missing or damaged samples are flagged immediately.

Key Features:

  • Sample Verification Screen: The processing lab’s team verifies the samples, and any discrepancies can be marked (e.g., missing or damaged samples). The system records these issues, allowing for prompt action.
  • Processing Initiation: Once samples are verified, they move into the pending completion section, where lab technicians can access them for testing.
Benefit: This organized workflow reduces the chances of processing the wrong samples and ensures faster completion of lab tests.

5. MRP Receipt Generation for Patients 🧾

Problem: B2B centers need to provide patients with an invoice copy that reflects the MRP (Maximum Retail Price) instead of the discounted B2B rates. 

Solution: MocDoc’s B2B portal offers a feature called PrintMRPReceipt, allowing B2B centers to generate and print an invoice copy for patients with the MRP of the processing lab.

Key Features:

  • MRP Invoice Option: When B2B centers create an order request for a patient, they can choose to print an invoice copy that shows the MRP value of the tests, not the agreed B2B rates.
  • Transparency for Patients: This allows the B2B centers to provide patients with a bill that matches the lab’s standard pricing.
Benefit: Ensures transparency in pricing for patients and helps B2B centers maintain clear billing standards without compromising on agreed-upon rates with the processing lab.

6. Lab Report Status Tracking & Printing 🖨️

Problem: Delays in tracking lab reports and difficulties in managing report approval stages. 

Solution: B2B centers can now track the real-time status of lab reports from their Lab Order Screen, ensuring they are aware of the progress at each stage. When reports are approved, B2B centers can instantly review and print them.

Key Features:

  • Lab Order Screen: The B2B portal offers a Lab Order Screen that allows centers to monitor the status of each order. Reports can be tracked through stages like: Pending Completion Stage: The sample is undergoing testing. Pending Verification Stage: The report is being reviewed. Pending Approval Stage: The report is awaiting final approval. Printed Stage: The report has been approved and is ready for printing.
  • Report Printing: Once approved, B2B centers can print the lab reports directly from the portal for their records or to provide them to the patient.
Benefit: Improves transparency and reduces delays in report delivery, allowing B2B centers to provide patients with timely and accurate reports.

Conclusion: A Seamless Laboratory Workflow with MocDoc

The B2B Order Request Portal from MocDoc revolutionizes the way processing labs interact with their B2B associates. By digitizing patient registration, streamlining sample collection, automating billing, tracking lab report statuses, and offering an MRP receipt option, MocDoc has created a more efficient, error-free system that increases productivity and optimizes operations.

By addressing key pain points, the B2B Order Request Portal reduces manual work, increases transparency, and ensures smooth coordination between B2B centers and processing labs. For labs looking to improve their workflow, reduce turnaround times, and enhance report management, MocDoc offers a reliable and scalable solution.

How MocDoc's B2B Order Re...

Introduction:Managing samples and tracking lab reports effici.....

Published by: Mohammed Siddiq 2024100319:29:40