Healthcare organizations are investing heavily in interoperability, advanced analytics, and AI-enabled clinical workflows. But the effectiveness of these technologies depends on accurate, standardized clinical data.
For laboratory data in particular, that foundation often hinges on LOINC® (Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes) – the global standard used to identify lab tests and clinical observations.
In a recent webinar, IMO Health experts explored how LOINC accuracy influences interoperability, patient safety, and the financial performance of healthcare organizations – and why maintaining these codes is becoming increasingly important.
Click below to watch the full video or keep scrolling for key takeaways.
ON-DEMAND WEBINAR
Why LOINC matters in clinical workflows
Unlike billing codes such as CPT® (Current Procedural Terminology) or ICD-10-CM, LOINC captures the clinical specificity needed to interpret diagnostic data.
As Andrei Naeymi-Rad, VP of Healthcare Product Strategy, explained during the webinar:
This level of detail ensures that clinical data can be accurately understood and exchanged. Without it, important context may be lost as data moves between systems, limiting its usefulness for care delivery and reporting.
The risk of outdated or poorly maintained codes
LOINC is not static – the standard updates twice a year, introducing new codes while retiring others. Maintaining these mappings is essential but often resource-intensive.
As June Bronnert, VP of Global Clinical Services, highlighted during the discussion:
“Maintenance is vital… it’s really not just about removing codes that have been deprecated but really digging in and looking at what is now discouraged and what new codes are available.”
When outdated codes persist, organizations risk inconsistent data exchange, increased manual work, and inefficiencies that can scale quickly across systems.
When data gaps affect patient care
Data interoperability challenges can directly affect clinical decisions and patient care.
During the webinar, Naeymi-Rad shared a personal example of this:
Naeymi-Rad’s story illustrates how interoperability failures – often stemming from minor data inconsistencies – can lead to inappropriate treatment decisions. When systems lack the full patient context, they cannot reliably support safe, informed care.
The financial stakes of clinical data quality
Accurate clinical data is also essential for financial performance. Value-based care programs depend on standardized clinical data, including laboratory results, to measure quality and determine reimbursement.
When coding is inconsistent, organizations may face increased administrative burden, reduced reporting accuracy, and missed performance opportunities.
According to the webinar discussion, organizations could face up to a $1 million penalty per instance if they’re caught blocking data.
These risks underscore the growing connection between data quality, compliance, and revenue.
Preparing for an increasingly data-driven healthcare world
As healthcare becomes more data-driven, standardized terminology like LOINC plays a central role in enabling interoperability and supporting clinical workflows.
Maintaining accurate laboratory coding is essential to ensuring that data can be trusted, shared, and used effectively across the care continuum.
As Bronnert emphasized at the end of the webinar:
To learn more about how LOINC accuracy impacts interoperability, patient safety, and financial performance, watch the full webinar on demand.
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