EZ Runs(tm) software and Instrument Manager(tm), from Westgard QC, Inc. and Data Innovations, Inc.

EZ Runs^tm, and Instrument Manager^tm

While EZ Runs^tm stands alone as the best of breed in QC Charting software, it can also chart the data from hundreds of instruments and LIS systems. Through a collaboration of Westgard QC, Inc., and Data Innovations, Inc., EZ Runs^tm can interface with instruments and other LIS systems through Instrument Manager^tm. This article describes Instrument Manager^tm and illustrates the powerful combination of its interfacing features with EZ Runs^tm QC Charting.

What is Instrument Manager^tm?

The Instrument Manager^tm (IM) system interfaces to medical instruments such as laboratory analyzers, automation equipment, and point-of-care devices. IM can be utilized in many different ways, including:

As a consolidating front end to a larger information system, separating the host from real-time demand and standardizing protocols.
As a value enhancer between instrumentation and an information system, filling those important gaps in functionality between the two.
As a stand-alone small information system.

IM has a capacity of 128 connections, simultaneously supporting a wide variety of transport mechanisms such as TCP/IP, LAT, and RS232. Its ability to use multiple protocols concurrently, including industry standards HL7 and ASTM, emulation and proprietary protocols, make IM the most versatile interfacing engine in the industry. IM is a state-of-the-art Windows MDI application operating on a Windows 95/98/2000/NT platform, allowing quick and straightforward configuration by non-programmers.

What can Instrument Manager^tm and EZ Runs^tm do?

The integration of Westgard EZ Runs^tm Quality Control tool into IM now offers you the ability to process quality control (QC) specimens without manual input. This integrated QC package offers several advantages. QC Configuration provides the ability to setup QC Materials on a specific connection. QC Maintenance provides the ability to view and maintain your QC specimen data with action logs, control charts, data entry, and reports. QC Automated Data Entry provides the ability to automatically receive data from specific connections and then send that data to EZ Runs^tm for processing.

Quality Control Setup in Instrument Manager^tm

Instrument Manager^tm allows you to select any instrument (referred to as a connection in the IM program), select a Test Code, and a Material, and import that data into EZ Runs^tm.

Quick access to control data

To view the control data and see the interpretation of that data, all you have to do is select an instrument (connection), select a test, and click Open EZ Runs. The MultiChart^tm shows you all the relevant control data for all materials and levels associated with that test.

QC Rules Violation Log

EZ Runs^tm and Instrument Manager^tm can prepare a total exclusion report. You can view a summary of all rule violations by instrument, by test, or by material.