Laboratory Network Coordination
One Coordinating Partner Across Your Laboratory Relationships
TMS helps healthcare organizations manage the operational complexity of working with qualified laboratory partners by supporting onboarding, ordering workflows, specimen logistics, reporting, communication, technology, and ongoing relationship coordination.
TMS coordinates the relationship. Laboratory partners perform the testing.
Why it matters
Why Laboratory Coordination Matters
A healthcare organization may need more than access to a single laboratory.
Different testing programs, geographic locations, payer considerations, logistics, technology, and operational requirements can create multiple relationships and workflows.
TMS helps organize these moving pieces through a central management model.
Without coordination, practices may have to manage:
- Onboarding
- Ordering
- Specimen logistics
- Supply requests
- Laboratory communication
- Portal access
- Reporting
- Issue resolution
- Multiple contacts
The challenge
Two Ways to Run the Same Program
The clinical work does not change. The number of operational relationships the practice manages does.
Fragmented Model
Multiple relationships. Multiple workflows. Multiple points of coordination.
TMS Coordinated Model
One coordinating layer across the operational workflow.
Coordination lifecycle
The Laboratory Coordination Lifecycle
How TMS supports a laboratory relationship from assessment through ongoing program review.
- 01
Practice Assessment
Understand specialty, location, workflow, existing laboratory relationships, and program needs.
- 02
Partner Alignment
Help identify appropriate qualified laboratory relationships based on confirmed program needs.
- 03
Onboarding
Coordinate operational setup, contacts, supply processes, ordering, and reporting access.
- 04
Workflow Integration
Connect collection, logistics, ordering, reporting, and staff responsibilities.
- 05
Ongoing Communication
Serve as a coordination point for routine operational questions and workflow issues.
- 06
Issue Management
Help route and coordinate operational problems with the appropriate laboratory partner.
- 07
Program Review
Support the practice as needs, locations, testing models, or laboratory relationships evolve.
Network structure
A Coordination Layer Across Regions and Partners
Illustrative structure. Practice regions and laboratory partners shown generically — partner identities and coverage are confirmed during implementation.
- Ordering
- Supplies
- Specimen logistics
- Reports
- Support
- Workflow visibility
Coordination scope
What TMS Coordinates
Operational coordination areas TMS has confirmed. Laboratory processing itself remains with the performing laboratory.
Laboratory Onboarding
Support operational setup between practice and laboratory partner.
Ordering Workflows
Help organize how appropriate orders move into the laboratory process.
Specimen Logistics
Coordinate established shipping, pickup, and specimen-handling workflows.
Supply Coordination
Help organize routine supply requests where applicable.
Reporting Access
Support setup and use of applicable laboratory reporting environments.
Communication
Help route operational questions to appropriate laboratory contacts.
Issue Resolution
Support escalation and coordination when workflow issues arise.
Multi-Laboratory Management
Help practices manage more than one laboratory relationship where needed.
Role ownership
Provider, TMS, and Laboratory Partner
TMS coordinates the operational workflow. The laboratory partner performs the testing and issues the report.
Healthcare Provider / Practice
Owns clinical decisions.
- Orders testing when appropriate
- Collects or coordinates specimens
- Reviews results
- Makes clinical decisions
TMS
The coordination layer.
- Coordinates operational workflow
- Manages relationships
- Supports onboarding
- Supports logistics
- Supports technology and reporting access
- Helps resolve workflow issues
Laboratory Partner
The performing laboratory.
- Performs testing
- Maintains its analytical quality system
- Generates laboratory reports
- Meets its own applicable regulatory requirements
Technology
Connect Laboratory Relationships to the Practice Workflow
Workflow visibility across the laboratory relationships a practice uses. Illustrative interface with sample data only.
| Laboratory partner | Order status | Specimen status | Result availability | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partner A | Submitted | In transit | Pending | West — Clinic 1 |
| Partner B | Received | At laboratory | Pending | South — Clinic 4 |
| Partner A | Received | Processed | Available | Central — Clinic 2 |
| Partner C | Submitted | Awaiting pickup | Pending | East — Clinic 7 |
Illustrative interface — sample data, no patient information
Supply request
Collection supplies — Clinic 4
Support request
Reporting access — Clinic 7
Laboratory processing timelines are determined by the performing laboratory.
Why practices coordinate
Why Practices Use a Coordinating Partner
Operational reasons organizations give for consolidating laboratory coordination.
Fewer Disconnected Workflows
A more centralized operational approach.
Clearer Communication
Defined points of contact and escalation.
More Consistent Implementation
Standardized processes across locations where appropriate.
Easier Multi-Lab Management
Support for organizations working with more than one qualified partner.
Technology Support
Help organize ordering and reporting workflows.
Ongoing Management
Continued coordination as practice needs evolve.
Testing is performed by qualified laboratory partners
TMS is not a laboratory. Laboratory partners perform analytical testing, maintain their own quality systems, issue laboratory reports, and meet their own applicable regulatory requirements. Laboratory processing timelines are determined by the performing laboratory.
Quick answers
Laboratory Coordination, Answered Plainly
Direct answers for organizations evaluating a coordinating partner across laboratory relationships.
What is laboratory network coordination?
It is the operational work of connecting a practice's clinical workflow to the qualified laboratory partners that perform its testing — onboarding, ordering, logistics, reporting, communication and issue resolution.
Is TMS a laboratory?
No. TMS is a medication-monitoring management, technology and consulting company. Laboratory testing is performed by qualified laboratory partners.
Who performs testing?
The applicable qualified laboratory partner performs the testing and issues the laboratory report.
Can TMS work with an existing laboratory?
TMS can review the practice's existing laboratory relationships and discuss available coordination options.
Can TMS coordinate multiple laboratories?
Where appropriate, TMS can support workflows involving multiple qualified laboratory partners across one or more practice locations.
Who controls laboratory turnaround time?
The performing laboratory. Processing timelines are determined by that laboratory and the applicable testing workflow, not by TMS.
How are laboratory results delivered?
Results are issued by the performing laboratory through its applicable reporting environment. TMS supports access setup and how reporting fits the practice workflow.
What role does TMS play?
TMS serves as a central coordination point for the operational relationship between the practice and its laboratory partners.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. TMS is a medication-monitoring management, technology, and consulting company. Laboratory testing is performed by qualified laboratory partners.
Laboratory coordination means helping the practice manage the operational relationship between its clinical workflow and participating laboratory partners, including onboarding, ordering, logistics, reporting, communication, and ongoing support.
TMS coordinates independent qualified laboratory partners and does not represent itself as the testing laboratory.
TMS can review the practice's existing laboratory relationships and discuss available coordination options.
Where appropriate, TMS can support workflows involving multiple qualified laboratory partners.
Testing is performed by the applicable qualified laboratory partner.
No. Laboratory processing timelines are determined by the performing laboratory and applicable testing workflow.
TMS can help coordinate approved specimen logistics and laboratory workflows.
Where supported, TMS can help organize consistent laboratory coordination workflows across multiple practice locations.
Ask a question to review existing laboratory relationships, locations, testing workflows, technology, and operational needs.
Have a Question?
Simplify the Operational Side of Your Laboratory Relationships
Talk with TMS about your current laboratory partners, locations, ordering workflow, specimen logistics, reporting, and coordination needs.