LOINK result coding

[Kip Kuttner]

Have any of you dealt (successfully) with "Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes" coding especially for reference lab results? http://loinc.org/ (LO- OINK?)

It is designed to be a "universal" result coding system for laboratories in the US subscribing to the affordable care act ACA. It is supposed to unify the result coding for all health care computers making test results readable by any health care computer. From what I understand, Health care Laboratories must implement this reporting system by the end of 2013 or face government penalties.

For free standing blood centers with an IRL is there a module for reporting reference lab results or does a facility need to implement the whole system (Hematology, Chemistry, Coag, Micro, etc) to get at the immunohematology reference lab report codes?

Thanks:confused:

[David Saikin]

You should just be able to select the tests you want to LOINC (is that a verb now?). Have you looked at the website?

[Kip Kuttner]

Hello David. Thanks for responding. Yes I have started wading through the site. However since I am basically lazy, I thought I would see what others are doing too! )

[David Saikin]

i did mine about 18 months ago . . . they can be very specific (esp in Chemistry).

[Kip Kuttner]

I am in a blood center with an IRL and am concerned about our reports to hospitals. The only clinical lab we have is for immunohematology. Currently each report is customized and typed. We do not issue a computerized report. I can see using standardization for a numerical answer but we report things like the antigen frequency, ways to serologically approach the patient in the future, and transfusion recommendations that, while not impossible to turn into a "LOINK", would be difficult.

We will figure it out.

[Abraham]

We did it a few months ago. Kept it as generic as possible.

[Makita123]

How do you add LOINC codes if you have 2 ABORH tests, but only one code?  Says duplication not allowed.