In Northern BC, something amazing has happened in health care. The Northern Health (NH) Lab Outpatient Improvement Project (LOIP) has reached a major milestone - one million lab requisitions digitized! That means one million times patients were able to get the lab tests they needed, faster and easier than ever before.
The LOIP project began in 2021 with a bold vision to improve access to lab services across the North. At the time, patients were facing long wait times - sometimes two weeks or more - and inconsistent processes across different communities. The final site went live in April 2022, marking the completion of a region-wide transformation.
Over two years, the LOIP team worked tirelessly to improve lab services at 26 sites across the region. They introduced new ways for patients to book appointments, including:
- Online booking through the HealthElife portal.
- Phone booking via the regional contact centre (1-888-223-1530), where patients can speak directly with someone for support with their lab appointment.
- Drop-in visits using the NH Check-In app at select locations.
- Another major improvement, health care providers no longer need to fax lab requisitions to different numbers depending on the site. Now, there is one centralized fax number for all outpatient lab requisitions, making the process simpler, faster, and more reliable.
LOIP has also helped standardize outpatient lab services and interconnect labs, allowing patients to access lab services at any NH facility, regardless of location. These changes drastically reduced wait times for lab appointments - from more than two weeks down to just a few days.
These changes have given patients more options and helped reduce long lineups. Patients can now bring their lab requisition (the form from their primary care provider) with them, or have it sent directly to the lab, streamlining the entire experience.
The project didn’t just benefit the patients - it also makes work easier for lab staff. By modernizing tools and processes, staff can focus more on what they do best, helping people. The LOIP team included medical lab technologists, medical lab assistants, clinical information system administrators, lab managers, and patient partners. Their collaboration and dedication made this success possible.
Thanks to their hard work, LOIP received the BC Quality Award for Excellence in Quality: Strengthening Health & Wellness in 2024, and was nominated for two Charles Jago Awards – a testament to its impact and innovation.
Lisette Vienneau, Northern Health’s Regional Director of Diagnostic Services, summed it up beautifully: “Thank you to the wonderful and dedicated Northern Health medical laboratory professionals, the clinical lab information system team, and other dedicated staff who were involved in this project. Your resilience, perseverance, and trust were priceless.”
Now, with one million requisitions completed, NH is looking forward. The organization will continue listening to patients, health care providers, and lab staff to make services even better.
This milestone is more than just a number - it’s proof that when people work together, big changes can happen. And for patients across Northern BC, it means better access to care, shorter wait times, and a healthier future!
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