Exact Sciences’ Lab Connectivity Breakthrough with Veradigm DORN
Featured Client Story
Lab integration underpins every diagnostic workflow. Yet traditional point-to-point HL7 setups often take 8–12 weeks to build, cost $10K–$15K each, and demand constant upkeep. Fax-based orders introduce manual steps, extend turnaround times, and raise the risk of transcription errors. This stretches IT teams thin and frustrates care providers.
For Exact Sciences—maker of the non-invasive Cologuard® colorectal cancer screening test—scalable, reliable lab integration with hundreds of ambulatory EHRs is mission-critical. Any delay in test ordering or result delivery slows early detection, compromises patient care, and undercuts the value of their precision oncology solutions.
Headquartered in Madison, WI, Exact Sciences first linked its lab services to Practice Fusion in 2015. As demand grew, they knew a more robust, centralized model was needed. In April 2023, Exact Sciences expanded its EHR network via Veradigm’s Diagnostic Ordering and Results Network (DORN). By January 2024, they became the inaugural organization to launch Veradigm EHR (VEHR) through DORN—demonstrating that near-real-time, cloud-based connectivity could scale without adding IT overhead.
A phased rollout with rigorous pilot programs allowed Exact Sciences to test workflows, gather user feedback, and fine-tune validation rules before each broader launch. Clinics were equipped with an onboarding guide and staff tip sheets, paving the way for seamless adoption. Within days of go-live, early adopters reported faster order acknowledgments and more reliable results delivery compared to legacy interfaces.
Veradigm DORN delivers best-in-class lab integration by replacing dozens of fragmented, one-off builds with a unified hub:
- Automated test order transmission and results reporting through VEHR—no fax, no point-to-point interface
- Standardized message validation that cuts order errors in half
- Centralized dashboard for near-real-time monitoring of orders, rejections, and turnaround times
- Scalable architecture that supports desktop, tablet, and mobile access
The impact has been dramatic:
- Implementation timelines slashed by 90%—from an average of 12 weeks to just days per connection
- Over 800 live electronic interfaces across multiple EHR platforms
- Nearly 10,000 lab results processed monthly with automated reporting
- A 117% increase in orders and a 167% rise in results (Oct 2024–Apr 2025)
- Substantial IT cost savings and reallocated resources for strategic innovation
“DORN has completely transformed our IT operations,” says Eric Fruhling, Sr. Digital Health Strategist at Exact Sciences. “What once required weeks of custom builds now wraps up in days, freeing our team to focus on patient-centered innovation instead of interface maintenance.”
Looking ahead, Exact Sciences plans to leverage DORN’s analytics toolkit to identify connectivity bottlenecks and optimize lab capacity in real time. Other labs and radiology centers can follow suit—moving away from disparate interfaces toward a single, intelligent hub that provides order accuracy, minimizes administrative burden, and delivers better outcomes for patients and providers alike.
Discover how Veradigm DORN achieved instant lab integration—slashing integration times by 90%, automating 10,000+ results monthly, and creating a 167% surge in orders!