Journey of a LIS Application to Modular Modern Architecture

From legacy to next-gen LIS Application improving accuracy, efficiency, and clinician experience at every step.

Edrin Thomas

Founder & CTO

Healthcare systems evolve rapidly, and technology must keep pace to support efficient workflows, accurate records, and seamless patient experiences. One organization’s journey from a legacy LIS Application to a modern, future-ready platform demonstrates how careful innovation reshapes healthcare operations.

Creating Clarity With a Traceability-First Migration Strategy

The transformation begins by addressing the most complex part of the legacy system: stored procedures buried deep in Oracle Forms and PL/SQL. With no documentation available, migration carries significant risks. To mitigate them, the team adopts a traceability-first approach. Every stored procedure is extracted, analyzed, and mapped directly to its corresponding business function and UI module using a custom-built tool.

This effort produces a traceability matrix—a complete blueprint linking backend logic to front-end workflows. It becomes the guiding map for migration, ensuring no functionality is overlooked and every process has a clear reference point.

Refactoring Legacy Logic Into Modular, Service-Oriented Architecture

After mapping, the complex legacy logic is carefully refactored into modular Java services. Instead of operating as a monolithic system, the new design follows service-oriented principles that allow easier scalability, cleaner maintenance, and seamless integration with external applications. By exposing functionality through RESTful APIs, the platform ensures smooth communication across modules and with third-party healthcare tools, making the system far more agile than before.

Reimagining User Experience With a Modern Angular-Based Interface

Legacy systems often struggle with outdated user interfaces, and this case is no different. The modernization introduces a responsive Angular-based UI that completely transforms the user experience. Clinicians and staff interact with the system seamlessly—scanning barcodes during specimen registration, entering test results, or validating data in review stages. By focusing on intuitive design and responsiveness, the platform improves efficiency and satisfaction across daily workflows.

Building Confidence With Continuous Testing at Every Stage

Replacing a long-standing system requires trust. To safeguard against disruption, continuous testing runs throughout the migration journey. Each module undergoes feature parity checks against the legacy system, ensuring critical workflows—such as result entry and multi-level reviews—remain intact. This approach minimizes risk, validates accuracy, and builds confidence among stakeholders that the new system not only matches but improves upon the legacy platform.

Leveraging a Powerful Technology Stack for Performance and Visibility

The modernized LIS Application combines a robust backend (Java) with a dynamic frontend (Angular), retaining Oracle as the database for business continuity. Observability tools such as ELK, Prometheus, and Grafana provide real-time visibility into performance metrics, error tracking, and system health, allowing administrators to proactively monitor and optimize the platform.

Streamlining Lab Operations With Specialized Workflow Modules

Beyond technology, the true value emerges in how the system supports daily healthcare workflows. Specialized modules streamline lab operations end-to-end:

Specimen Registration captures specimen details with barcode scanning, priority settings, validations, and automated label printing.
Acknowledge & Verify confirms specimen information, fills in missing data, and validates codes before processing.
Result Entry allows results input with rule-based checks, manages reflex tests, and prepares reports automatically.
1st Level Review provides technical validation against preconfigured rules or allows manual review assignments.
2nd Level Review enables final pathologist validation for critical or abnormal results before release.

Together, these modules function as a connected ecosystem, reducing errors, improving traceability, and supporting faster turnaround times.

Endnote

The journey from a legacy Oracle Forms system to a modern, modular LIS application delivers far-reaching impact. Maintenance costs reduce, redundant logic disappears, and integration with external systems becomes easier. Most importantly, the architecture is future-ready, empowering the organization to adapt quickly, scale effectively, and continue innovating in healthcare delivery.

Edrin Thomas

Edrin Thomas is the CTO of 10decoders with extensive experience in helping enterprises and startups streamlining their business performance through data-driven innovations