Digital Pathology - Myth and Reality
As we continue exploring, innovating, developing and embracing technology towards improving patient care, an area that is continuing to evolve and grow is Digital Pathology. Undocumented history suggests the start of this technology in the 1980s and gaining traction in the 1990s and beyond.
The Myth
A common definition of Digital Pathology is that of technology and the process of using digitized images of glass slides to examine and diagnose diseases often related to cancer.
The thought and argument that the simple act of scanning a slide to a digital image and using it to diagnose disease would improve accuracy, speed and quality of patient care, is a myth in my opinion.
The Reality
Workflows
This is possibly the most important aspect of any solution - not just Digital Pathology. Unless a solution to a problem can be used in a way that the user can make it part of his routine easily, the said solution may become an impediment to the ultimate goal. This also holds true for any Digital Pathology solution - is it providing all the tools a Pathologist may need to efficiently perform his/her diagnosis?
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Integrations
It is imperative for a Digital Pathology solution to be open and capable of integrating with any and every solution that a health system uses. This may include scanners, LISs, EMRs, EHRs, AI and custom products. This aspect of a Digital Pathology system is crucial in maintaining any existing workflows and processes which are optimal while introducing efficiencies in other areas.
Storage
The elephant in the room is "storage". Have you considered the cost of storing whole slide images (WSI) which can vary in size between 300MB-50GB? Adopters must weigh the pros and cons of storing WSIs for a specific duration taking into account legal and regulatory compliances. Solutions with tiered storage with easy retrieval are highly recommended.
The Good News
The good news is that all of the above can be addressed. Remember, not all Digital Pathology solutions are created equal and a solution may or may not meet all your requirements.
It is prudent to be flexible and focus on optimizing workflows while improving patient care while leveraging the best aspects of Digital Pathology. Implementing a Digital Pathology solution without addressing areas of legacy workflows, integration and storage, may not give you the advantage that the technology is capable of.
Good luck! :)
[These opinions are my own and not a reflection of my employer]