What are Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC)?

Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes (LOINC) is a coding system for identifying and exchanging health data. Health professionals often use it for laboratory test orders and results, vital signs, and other clinical data. LOINC is a standard in electronic medical record (EMR) and electronic health record (EHR) systems and is helpful when exchanging data with health information exchanges (HIE).

The Regenstrief Institute maintains and distributes LOINC. It is also part of the National Library of Medicine’s Unified Medical Language System (UMLS).  

Who Uses LOINC

LOINC is used to identify the components of a clinical observation or laboratory result within healthcare IT systems. This information can then be used in clinical care, outcomes management, data analysis, and research.

Beyond physicians and healthcare providers, all insurers, private and public healthcare organizations, and insurance payers work with LOINC data. In addition, some agencies in the U.S. federal government that use LOINC include the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the Department of Defense.

Implementing LOINC

While LOINC functionality is often a standard part of electronic healthcare record systems, an organization may need to map its medical codes to those of LOINC.

To help ease the process, the Regenstrief LOINC Mapping Assistant (RELMA) application for Microsoft Windows is available from the Regenstrief website.

How TempDev Can Help With LOINC

TempDev’s team of NextGen consultants, developers, and trainers can help you implement, switch, or even upgrade your current EHR system. From dashboards, templates, and reports to revenue cycle consulting, automation, and workflow redesign, TempDev offers the tools you need to make the most of your NextGen EHR system.

Our team is here to help you design, organize, and implement the whole system, with top tips and guidance based on industry best practices. 

Contact us here or call us at 888.TEMP.DEV to get the help you need working with LOINC and electronic medical records in your organization.