This document discusses digital pathology and its potential to address challenges facing anatomic pathology in Canada. It summarizes the current process which involves biopsy samples being prepared as slides that pathologists physically examine under microscopes. It notes pathology is essential for healthcare but faces issues like unequal rural access, inefficient manual processes, and increasing workload. Digital pathology could help by allowing virtual slide sharing to improve access, and using image analysis to increase efficiency and allow pathologists to handle higher caseloads. This represents a new frontier with the potential to enhance pathology services in Canada.
How health analytics are changing the way we understand and manage healthcare. Presented by Professor Enrico Coiera, Faculty of Medicine at the University of NSW, Australia, at HINZ 2014, 11 November 2014, 10am, Plenary Room
The final protocol (v5.3). Notable changes include:
1) Confirmation of audit standard (Page 6).
2) Refinement of inclusion and exclusion criteria (Page 7)
3) Confirmation of audit status (Appendix C)
4) Refinement of required data fields (Page 19) including definitions (Pages 20-25)
The Paperless partograph – The new user-friendly and simpler tool for monitor...iosrjce
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences is one of the speciality Journal in Dental Science and Medical Science published by International Organization of Scientific Research (IOSR). The Journal publishes papers of the highest scientific merit and widest possible scope work in all areas related to medical and dental science. The Journal welcome review articles, leading medical and clinical research articles, technical notes, case reports and others.
How health analytics are changing the way we understand and manage healthcare. Presented by Professor Enrico Coiera, Faculty of Medicine at the University of NSW, Australia, at HINZ 2014, 11 November 2014, 10am, Plenary Room
The final protocol (v5.3). Notable changes include:
1) Confirmation of audit standard (Page 6).
2) Refinement of inclusion and exclusion criteria (Page 7)
3) Confirmation of audit status (Appendix C)
4) Refinement of required data fields (Page 19) including definitions (Pages 20-25)
The Paperless partograph – The new user-friendly and simpler tool for monitor...iosrjce
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences is one of the speciality Journal in Dental Science and Medical Science published by International Organization of Scientific Research (IOSR). The Journal publishes papers of the highest scientific merit and widest possible scope work in all areas related to medical and dental science. The Journal welcome review articles, leading medical and clinical research articles, technical notes, case reports and others.
Guidance for Biomarkers into Early Phase Clinical Research Purposes | Healthc...PEPGRA Healthcare
In many health data analytics companies, Biomarkers are playing increasingly critical roles in the development of new drugs in early-phase trials. This blog is meant to introduce clinical investigators to the fundamentals of choosing a biomarker test for use in an early phase trial. Some steps to consider are briefly outlined including defining the role of the biomarker in the early phase trial are:
Errors in Measurement, Bigotry, Astounding, Price and Acceptability.
Continue Reading: http://bit.ly/38TbC2H
Contact us:
UK: +44-1143520021
US/Canada: +1-972-502-9262
India: +91-9884350006
Email id: sales.cro@pepgra.com
Website: www.pepgra.com
IMPACT OF HEALTH INFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MODIFIED E...hiij
The Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) is based on a patient score that helps the medical team monitor patients to identify a patient that may be experiencing a sudden decline in care. This study consists of a detailed review of clinical data and patient outcomes to assess impact of technology and patient care.There are a total of thirteen hospitals included in this review. These facilities have implemented vitals capture and the MEWS scoring system.
College Writing II Synthesis Essay Assignment Summer Semester 2017.docxclarebernice
College Writing II Synthesis Essay Assignment Summer Semester 2017
Directions:
For this assignment you will be writing a synthesis essay. A synthesis is a combination of two or more summaries and sources. In a synthesis essay you will have three paragraphs, an introduction, a synthesis and a conclusion.
In the introduction you will give background information about your topic. You will also include a thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph. The thesis statement should describe the goal of your synthesis. (informative or argumentative)
The second paragraph is the synthesis. You will combine two summaries of two different articles on the same topic. You will follow all summary guidelines for these two paragraphs. The synthesis will most likely either argue or inform the reader about the topic.
The conclusion paragraph should summarize the points of your essay and restate the general ideas.
For this essay you will read two research articles on a similar topic to the previous critical review essay as you can use this research in your inquiry paper. You will summarize both articles in two paragraphs and combine the paragraphs for your synthesis. In the synthesis you must include the main ideas of the articles and the author, title, and general idea in the first sentences.
This essay will be three pages long and the first draft and peer review are due June 15. You must turn them in hardcopy in class so you can do a peer review.
Running head: THESIS DRAFT 1
THESIS DRAFT 3Thesis Draft
Katelyn B. Rhodes
D40375299
DeVry University
Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT) has dramatically taken over the field of clinical laboratory testing since it’s introduction approximately 45 years ago. The technologies utilized in PoCT have been refined to deliver accurate and expedient test results and will become even more sensitive and accurate in order to dominate the field of clinical laboratory testing. Furthermore, there will be a dramatic increase in the volume of clinical testing performed outside of the laboratory. New and emerging PoCT technologies utilize sophisticated molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction to aid in the treatment of major health problems worldwide, such as sexually transmitted infections (John & Price, 2014).
Historic Timeline
In the early-to-mid 1990’s, bench top analyzers entered the clinical laboratory scene. These analyzers were much smaller than the conventional analyzers being used, and utilized touch-screen PCs for ease of use. For this reason, they were able to be used closer to the patient’s bedside or outside of the laboratory environment. However, at this point in time, laboratory testing results were stored within the device and would have to then be sent to the main central laboratory for analysis.
Technology in the mid-to-late 1990’s permitted analyzers to be much smaller so that they may be easily carried to the patient’s location. Computers also became more ...
Brady’s white paper provides valuable industry examples on how label failure impacts labs and offers effective solutions to mitigate sample loss and improve efficiency. The report explains industry regulations that are in place to improve lab practices and explores how the use of barcoding systems, label materials designed for lab environments and printed label information can reduce sample errors.
Johns Hopkins Hospital doctors report that 40%-80% of chronic pain patient are misdiagnosed, and that MRIs and CTs miss pathology 56%-78% of the time, Therefore, during extensive chart reviews of current medical data will produce a classic case of GIGO-garbage in giving garbage out. The need for accurate diagnoses and testing is critical for AI to work.
Guidance for Biomarkers into Early Phase Clinical Research Purposes | Healthc...PEPGRA Healthcare
In many health data analytics companies, Biomarkers are playing increasingly critical roles in the development of new drugs in early-phase trials. This blog is meant to introduce clinical investigators to the fundamentals of choosing a biomarker test for use in an early phase trial. Some steps to consider are briefly outlined including defining the role of the biomarker in the early phase trial are:
Errors in Measurement, Bigotry, Astounding, Price and Acceptability.
Continue Reading: http://bit.ly/38TbC2H
Contact us:
UK: +44-1143520021
US/Canada: +1-972-502-9262
India: +91-9884350006
Email id: sales.cro@pepgra.com
Website: www.pepgra.com
IMPACT OF HEALTH INFORMATICS TECHNOLOGY ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A MODIFIED E...hiij
The Modified Early Warning System (MEWS) is based on a patient score that helps the medical team monitor patients to identify a patient that may be experiencing a sudden decline in care. This study consists of a detailed review of clinical data and patient outcomes to assess impact of technology and patient care.There are a total of thirteen hospitals included in this review. These facilities have implemented vitals capture and the MEWS scoring system.
College Writing II Synthesis Essay Assignment Summer Semester 2017.docxclarebernice
College Writing II Synthesis Essay Assignment Summer Semester 2017
Directions:
For this assignment you will be writing a synthesis essay. A synthesis is a combination of two or more summaries and sources. In a synthesis essay you will have three paragraphs, an introduction, a synthesis and a conclusion.
In the introduction you will give background information about your topic. You will also include a thesis statement at the end of the introduction paragraph. The thesis statement should describe the goal of your synthesis. (informative or argumentative)
The second paragraph is the synthesis. You will combine two summaries of two different articles on the same topic. You will follow all summary guidelines for these two paragraphs. The synthesis will most likely either argue or inform the reader about the topic.
The conclusion paragraph should summarize the points of your essay and restate the general ideas.
For this essay you will read two research articles on a similar topic to the previous critical review essay as you can use this research in your inquiry paper. You will summarize both articles in two paragraphs and combine the paragraphs for your synthesis. In the synthesis you must include the main ideas of the articles and the author, title, and general idea in the first sentences.
This essay will be three pages long and the first draft and peer review are due June 15. You must turn them in hardcopy in class so you can do a peer review.
Running head: THESIS DRAFT 1
THESIS DRAFT 3Thesis Draft
Katelyn B. Rhodes
D40375299
DeVry University
Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT) has dramatically taken over the field of clinical laboratory testing since it’s introduction approximately 45 years ago. The technologies utilized in PoCT have been refined to deliver accurate and expedient test results and will become even more sensitive and accurate in order to dominate the field of clinical laboratory testing. Furthermore, there will be a dramatic increase in the volume of clinical testing performed outside of the laboratory. New and emerging PoCT technologies utilize sophisticated molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction to aid in the treatment of major health problems worldwide, such as sexually transmitted infections (John & Price, 2014).
Historic Timeline
In the early-to-mid 1990’s, bench top analyzers entered the clinical laboratory scene. These analyzers were much smaller than the conventional analyzers being used, and utilized touch-screen PCs for ease of use. For this reason, they were able to be used closer to the patient’s bedside or outside of the laboratory environment. However, at this point in time, laboratory testing results were stored within the device and would have to then be sent to the main central laboratory for analysis.
Technology in the mid-to-late 1990’s permitted analyzers to be much smaller so that they may be easily carried to the patient’s location. Computers also became more ...
Brady’s white paper provides valuable industry examples on how label failure impacts labs and offers effective solutions to mitigate sample loss and improve efficiency. The report explains industry regulations that are in place to improve lab practices and explores how the use of barcoding systems, label materials designed for lab environments and printed label information can reduce sample errors.
Johns Hopkins Hospital doctors report that 40%-80% of chronic pain patient are misdiagnosed, and that MRIs and CTs miss pathology 56%-78% of the time, Therefore, during extensive chart reviews of current medical data will produce a classic case of GIGO-garbage in giving garbage out. The need for accurate diagnoses and testing is critical for AI to work.
European Pharmaceutical Review: Trials and Errors in NeuroscienceKCR
With many shifts in legislature, and advances in science and technology affecting clinical development in neurology and its clinical studies, it has never been more important to stay up to date with the latest regulations and trends
The Envisia Genomic Classifier is the first commercially available genomic test to improve the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The test harnesses the power of RNA sequencing and machine learning to improve physicians’ ability to differentiate IPF from other interstitial lung diseases (ILD) without the need for invasive, risky and costly surgery.
With almost half of oncology studies failing due to a lack of patient retention, there is a critical need to develop more efficient and patient focused strategies. Jessica Thilaganathan at CRF Health sits down with International Clinical Trials to explain why electronic clinical outcome solutions could be the answer. (Published with permission of International Clinical Trials).
Though a recent study found repeat colonoscopy is good for certain patients, accurate documentation is still a crucial factor to determine whether it is appropriate.
12
Capstone Project
Olivia Timmons
Department of Nursing. St. Johns River State College
NUR 4949: Nursing Capstone
Dr. C. Z. Velasco
November 14, 2021
Capstone Project
There is a saying that states one can only learn through doing it, practically and physically. It is the explanation as to why it is very important to implement the skills acquired in theory into practice to ascertain one’s competence. This is even more crucial in the medical field as they have no choice but just to be perfect at what they are doing, the only secret is through practice. Practicums connect the two worlds of theory and classwork, thus breaking the monotony alongside connecting what was taught in class with what happens in the field. They are important as apart from sharpening the student’s skills, they also open a window of opportunity and build up connections that will come in handy for the student later on. They will feel the experience and the pressure that comes with it thus preparing themselves accordingly.
Statement of the Problem
Timing is essential in the nursing field and the Emergency Room is notorious for its long wait times. The goal of a clinical laboratory is to deliver medically useful results for patients on a timely basis. This goal can be hindered by the new paradigm of the modern laboratory – “do more with less" (Lopez, 2020). When implementing new care models for patients, the patient perspective is critical. The objective of this study was to describe and develop an understanding of the information needs of patients in the ED waiting room concerning ED wait time notification (Calder, 2021). As a patient arrives at the ER waiting area, it's critical to have lab results for the provider to evaluate. I can give you an example of a patient that waited in the waiting room for over 3 hours, no labs were completed because they were waiting for the patient to go back into a room. The patient was suffering from a heart attack and his troponins were elevated and no one knew until 3 hours later. If POC labs were done on all patients as soon as they arrived, mistakes like these can be avoided. Completed POC blood can cut the wait times in half and the laboratory also won't be backed up on resulting lab specimens.
PICOT Question
Question: Is there a significant decrease in Emergency Department patient length of stay (LOS) for those whose blood was analyzed using POC testing versus those whose blood was analyzed using laboratory testing?
· P-Population= emergency room patients
· I-Intervention or Exposure= POC testing of blood specimens
· C-Comparison= Laboratory blood specimens
· O-Outcome= Decrease patient stay in the emergency room
· T-Time = N/A
History of the Issue
The length of patient stay in the emergency department (ED) is an issue that not only increases the severity of illnesses but also reduces the quality of patient care. Serious health conditions including diabetes and hypertension can worsen while patients are ...
12
Capstone Project
Olivia Timmons
Department of Nursing. St. Johns River State College
NUR 4949: Nursing Capstone
Dr. C. Z. Velasco
November 14, 2021
Capstone Project
There is a saying that states one can only learn through doing it, practically and physically. It is the explanation as to why it is very important to implement the skills acquired in theory into practice to ascertain one’s competence. This is even more crucial in the medical field as they have no choice but just to be perfect at what they are doing, the only secret is through practice. Practicums connect the two worlds of theory and classwork, thus breaking the monotony alongside connecting what was taught in class with what happens in the field. They are important as apart from sharpening the student’s skills, they also open a window of opportunity and build up connections that will come in handy for the student later on. They will feel the experience and the pressure that comes with it thus preparing themselves accordingly.
Statement of the Problem
Timing is essential in the nursing field and the Emergency Room is notorious for its long wait times. The goal of a clinical laboratory is to deliver medically useful results for patients on a timely basis. This goal can be hindered by the new paradigm of the modern laboratory – “do more with less" (Lopez, 2020). When implementing new care models for patients, the patient perspective is critical. The objective of this study was to describe and develop an understanding of the information needs of patients in the ED waiting room concerning ED wait time notification (Calder, 2021). As a patient arrives at the ER waiting area, it's critical to have lab results for the provider to evaluate. I can give you an example of a patient that waited in the waiting room for over 3 hours, no labs were completed because they were waiting for the patient to go back into a room. The patient was suffering from a heart attack and his troponins were elevated and no one knew until 3 hours later. If POC labs were done on all patients as soon as they arrived, mistakes like these can be avoided. Completed POC blood can cut the wait times in half and the laboratory also won't be backed up on resulting lab specimens.
PICOT Question
Question: Is there a significant decrease in Emergency Department patient length of stay (LOS) for those whose blood was analyzed using POC testing versus those whose blood was analyzed using laboratory testing?
· P-Population= emergency room patients
· I-Intervention or Exposure= POC testing of blood specimens
· C-Comparison= Laboratory blood specimens
· O-Outcome= Decrease patient stay in the emergency room
· T-Time = N/A
History of the Issue
The length of patient stay in the emergency department (ED) is an issue that not only increases the severity of illnesses but also reduces the quality of patient care. Serious health conditions including diabetes and hypertension can worsen while patients are ...
Social Media Intensifies Background Screening InformationMedpricer
Reprint from Professional Investigator Magazine highlighting how social media investigations can help private investigators, human resource professionals, fraud investigators, and litigators discover more information on companies and individuals.
How to Investigate Individuals and Companies Using InstagramMedpricer
Provides a step by step guide for Professional Investigators on how to research individuals and companies using Instagram. Shows you what information is available and provides step-by-step guide. Part 1 of a multi-part series.
How to Investigate Individuals and Companies Using PinterestMedpricer
Provides a step by step guide for Professional Investigators on how to research individuals and companies using Pinterest. Shows you what information is available and provides step-by-step guide.
Digital Rites of Passage - Managing Your Social …Medpricer
Provides guide on why to use social media for job and career management and provides a 4 step framework - Create, Connect, Curate, Control - on how to leverage social media for job hunting and career management. Presentation focuses on college interns and students transitioning to workforce, but can apply to anyone in workforce wanting to know how to use social media more effectively in their career.
1. Digital Pathology:
A New Frontier in
Canadian Healthcare
White Paper
January 2012
Copyright Information
Pathology Innovation
Centre of Excellence (PICOE)
GE Healthcare
2. Pathology is the study of changes in tissues that are associated
with disease. In medicine, pathology is divided into two specialties.
Molecular
Genetics
Pathology
Chemical
Pathology
Hematopathology
Clinical
Microbiology
Cytogenetics
Surgical
Pathology
Cytopathology
Molecular
Pathology
Forensic
Pathology
Anatomic
Pathology
Clinical
Pathology
Copyright Information
traditionally accomplished this task through direct
visual examination of specimens and the use of
microscopes in conjunction with reviewing clinical
information about the patients from whom the
specimens were obtained. The pathologist determines
whether or not an organ or tissue is diseased,
provides a prognosis1,2
and sometimes even predicts
the likelihood of response to particular therapies.1
Pathologic findings guide crucial treatment decisions:
whether or not an organ should be surgically
removed, the choice of chemotherapy or radiation
therapy and (in some cases) the decision to watch
and wait. Intraoperative consultations (frozen
sections) from surgeons require pathologists to
examine tissue samples within 20 minutes while the
patient is still in the operating room. Surgeons use
frozen section diagnoses to fine tune their surgical
plan for that patient.
Clinical pathology deals with laboratory analysis
of bodily fluids and tissues using chemistry,
microbiology, hematology and molecular pathology.
Anatomic pathology involves examination of
organs and tissues either by direct visual inspection,
use of a microscope or more sophisticated tools.
Subspecialties of anatomic pathology include surgical
pathology (examination of surgical specimens and
biopsies), cytopathology (examination of disease at
the cellular level), molecular pathology (examination
of molecules in organs, tissues and bodily fluids)
and forensic pathology (whole body autopsies/post
mortem examinations to determine the cause
of death).
Anatomic pathologists are medical doctors who
diagnose disease by examining cells, samples of
tissues (biopsies) and organs. Pathologists have
3. Pathologists are skilled healthcare practitioners. Each newly certified member of the profession is a veteran of
a decade of training: four years of medical school and five years of residency, followed by one or two years of
postgraduate fellowship.3
The basic process of anatomic pathology has its roots in the
nineteenth century, when the combination of examination with the
naked eye and microscopic inspection was first used to arrive at a
diagnosis.1,2
Although the past decade has seen equipment become
more sophisticated, the eyes of an experienced pathologist still
remain essential for diagnosis.
In a typical example, a physician who suspects disease will biopsy an affected area (perhaps a suspicious lump),
removing a sample using a needle or by excision (cutting). The specimen is shipped to a histopathology laboratory
where a pathologist assistant or specialized histotechnologist visually inspects and records the visible characteristics.
A technician prepares the sample for microscopic inspection through a prescribed series of steps that usually
includes fixation (to preserve cellular structure), dehydration and embedding the specimen in a block of paraffin wax.
2
Anatomic Pathology
The Current Process
WHITE PAPER
4. Patient
gets sick
Gives diagnosis Sends diagnostic report
Doctor
sends sample
Histotech
makes slides
Pathologist
makes diagnosis
Copyright Information
A specialist who prepares and stains slides of tissue samples.
A pathologist who has completed residency and fellowship. An attending pathologist can supervise fellows
and resident/registrars.
Histotech |
Attending pathologist |
This embedded specimen is sliced into thin sections
which are mounted on glass slides and treated with
stains that highlight different components of tissue,
thereby facilitating inspection and diagnosis. Each slide
is covered with a glass coverslip and is ready for
a final stage of quality assurance. In addition to a
visual inspection of quality of the sample (for staining,
air bubbles, etc.) the laboratory must ensure that slides
are properly labelled to match the paraffin block and
the individual patient’s paperwork. The process within
the laboratory is meticulous to ensure quality and
efficiency given the available tools. Pathologists rely
on the highly specialized technical support team in the
histopathology laboratory, to process tissue samples
into high quality slides. A patient’s case can include
many slides.
As these slides flow through the laboratory they must
be reconciled together at the end before being placed
in trays and sent to the pathologist’s office (typically via
courier or an overnight delivery service).
A pathologist will review paperwork and clinical
information before moving on to view slides using a
microscope. After reviewing the slides, the pathologist
will prepare a report (often dictated for later
transcription) that provides a final tissue diagnosis.
Once finalized, the report is sent to the patient’s
physician, who will use the findings to help determine
an appropriate course of action.
Although pathologists spend years learning how to
accurately diagnose disease, much of their time is
spent in administrative work — moving slide trays,
completing paperwork, matching slides to paperwork
or entering data into a laboratory information system.
5. Anatomic pathology is essential to delivering high-
quality healthcare in Canada. An editorial in the
Canadian Medical Association Journal acknowledged
that “pathological analysis of tissues is the basis of
most health care decisions regarding diagnosis and,
increasingly, treatment. As well, it provides links to
understanding disease processes”.4
Pathology influences not only diagnosis and treatment,
but can also determine how quickly a diagnosis is
reached and the amount of time spent in acute care.
When all goes smoothly, the result is prompt diagnosis,
and time in hospital is kept to a minimum. A disrupted
or delayed workflow can delay diagnosis and possibly
prolong hospital stays, which may result in increased
direct costs due to lengthier hospitalization and
4
An Essential Element of Canadian Healthcare
WHITE PAPER
decreased productivity as patients are kept away from
work and personal activities. Diagnostic or procedural
errors can lead to unnecessary treatment, missed
or delayed treatment and sometimes even death.
Accurate pathologic assessment and an efficient
workflow are essential to cost control, appropriate
and timely treatment and delivery of high-quality
healthcare.
In coming years, the importance of pathology can
only increase. A pathologist is the only physician who
can make the actual diagnosis of cancer.5
An aging
population as well as population increase has been
linked to a rising incidence of cancer. As long as current
demographic trends continue we can expect more
cases of cancer each year, and a consequent increase
in the need for pathologists.6
Estimated(1981 cancer count)
Aging Population
Cases (in thousands) Incidence
Year
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1981 1985 1991 1996 2001 2006 2010
Population Growth
Rate Change
Trends in new cases and deaths for all cancers and ages, attributed to cancer rate, population growth and
aging population, females, Canada, 1981-20106
6. Anatomic Pathology in Canada Today:
Limitations and Challenges
In Canada, the delivery of pathology services is facing growing challenges; challenges that have the potential to
impact the delivery of accessible, high-quality, cost-effective services for patients.
Unequal access to care. Pathologists and labs tend to be clustered in and around major cities.7
People who live
closer to cities find it easier to access these services. Delays occur when there is a greater distance between patients
and pathologists, as is often the case with patients who live in rural areas.8
Greater distances mean slides must travel
farther, increasing the turnaround time required to complete pathology procedures.
Lack of efficiency and limited cost-effectiveness. Compared to many other fields (radiology comes to mind), the
pathology process is relatively inefficient. Laboratories are managed with many checkpoints in order to ensure
accuracy and quality; however these are typically done with manual tools/techniques. After slides are prepared
and shipped, the pathologist must undertake the time-consuming but important tasks of sorting, matching and
carefully examining each individual sample for quality. These tests could have considerable impact on diagnosis
and treatment plan of patients. Unfortunately, the current laboratory environment is not adequately funded to take
advantage of technology advancements to increase quality, access and system productivity. The requirement that
pathologists be located near the histology laboratories that prepare slides makes it difficult to centralize laboratories
or decentralize pathologists, two measures that would allow the healthcare system to benefit from economies
of scale.
An ever-increasing workload. Nowadays pathologist are tasked with a heavier workload. Advances in medicine have
transformed pathology from a relatively simple assessment of the type and extent of a cancer to a complex process
that can include extensive tissue sampling, exhaustive microscopic examinations and performing several related
tests.4
Coupled with the rise in cancer cases, it is no surprise that some pathologists find themselves overburdened.
Recommended vs current workload for a Canadian pathologist9
Copyright Information
Level4equivalent(L4E)workloadunits
7. In 2007
approximately
31% of Canadian
anatomic
pathologists are
age 55+
In 2007
the average age of
a Canadian
anatomic pathologist
51 years old
There are
1195
pathologists in
Canada,
of which ~ 615
are anatomic
pathologists
Estimated 240
students in
5 year pathology
residency
training program
Canada will need
approximately
820 additional
pathologists
by 2020
6
A growing deficit of qualified professionals. The average Canadian pathologist is in his or her mid-fifties.9
Today, it is
estimated that Canada needs an additional 370 pathologists, while only 240 students are currently enrolled in
five-year residency training programs.9
By 2020, the country will need an additional 820 pathologists.9
This shortfall
of pathologists means that positions will increasingly go unfilled, and the workload of each individual pathologist
will increase. Many pathologists are already working past retirement age. Training more pathologists is at best
a long-term solution, given the years of specialized study required to qualify.
Compromised quality of care. In recent years, there have been several cases in Canada where patient care has
been seriously compromised as a result of pathologist error or lack of access to the expertise that sub-specialist
pathologists provide. These events have had tragic consequences for patients and their families, and have
undermined the confidence of Canadians in the quality of their public healthcare system.11,12,13,14,15,16,17
Studies have
shown discordance between diagnoses of general vs. sub-specialist pathologists, thereby highlighting the value of
providing a consultation network in pathology.18
WHITE PAPER
10
10
9
9
9
8. Copyright Information
Implementation of digital pathology technology has great promise
for the future of anatomic pathology practice:
Quality of care. An investigation into issues related to quality of care and treatment of patients in Windsor, Ontario
was initiated by the Honourable Deb Mathews, Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. In the final report,
the clinical and hospital leadership team appointed by the Minister recommended that digital scanning technology
and remote review should be assessed as part of a provincial quality assurance system for pathology.20
Connecting the pathology community and leveraging sub-specialist expertise has been shown to have a positive
impact on accuracy of diagnosis by allowing cases to be reviewed by the most appropriate pathologist.18
New digital
technologies have the potential to facilitate such pathology networks that could alleviate the limitations of the
current practice.
Greater access to care. Having a pathologist onsite during surgical procedures can be critical. Pathologists may be
called upon to determine the course of action required during surgery based on the analysis of tissue extracted with
a required turnaround time of less than 20 minutes. This can create challenges for rural communities, which may
only have a pathologist on site during intermittent periods of the week or month. This creates system challenges in
scheduling surgeries, which has financial implications for the hospital and most importantly, an adverse impact on
patient access to care. Even when a pathologist is available, lack of access to specialty consultation may impact
diagnosis and treatment course. Telepathology provides the ability to transcend geography which means that
pathologists can view slides anywhere they have access to a computer. This capability opens up opportunities for
collaboration between distant colleagues or remote diagnosis by subspecialties – possibly helping to alleviate the
chronic labour shortage in pathology.
Digital pathology takes traditional pathology
specimens – tissue samples mounted on glass slides
– and transforms them into digital images that can be
shared electronically by care providers.
While digital pathology has existed in some form since
the 1980s, for most of this time the limitations have
outweighed the benefits. Slow scanner speed, poor
image quality, low network bandwidth and high cost
have meant that digital pathology systems had no
cost or efficiency advantage over the current process.
Recent innovations in digital pathology technology
have radically altered this picture by transcending
these earlier limitations, thus opening new horizons in
anatomic pathology.19
Digital Pathology: A Potential Solution?
Digital pathology allows decentralization of
pathologists and pathology departments, permits
greater cost efficiencies through centralizing histology
laboratories and greatly facilitates archiving and
storage of information compared to traditional
pathology. The result: specialized pathologists can
provide care to remote regions, regional health
systems can benefit from economies of scale and
pathologists can process more cases with greater
administrative efficiency and diagnostic consistency
than ever before.19
9. 8WHITE PAPER
Reduced operating costs. Use of Digital Pathology systems can improve pathologist productivity. In some cases, as
in the common Canadian scenario where a pathologist who practices at an urban centre provides support to remote
communities, digital pathology eliminates the need for costly, time-consuming travel, freeing the pathologist to be
even more productive. Increased productivity can mean a decrease in the large deficit of Canada’s pathologists. Less
dramatically, digital pathology eliminates the cost of transporting fragile glass slides from one location to another.
Further cost savings may be realized by centralizing histology laboratories22
, something that has been difficult to
implement in the pre-digital era of pathology.
Greater efficiency. Digital pathology has the potential to reduce the amount of time pathologists spend on
administrative tasks that are inextricably linked to handling physical samples, and frees them to spend more time
viewing cases. Time and motion studies show pathologists spend about 13% of their time performing administrative
tasks which could potentially be eliminated by digital pathology.
Organizing Cases 24.1% (0:10:25)
Querying for Cases 18.5% (0:07:59)
Waiting for Delivery 11.2% (0:04:49)
Matching 10.5% (0:04:32)
Searching for Cases 9.4% (0:04:04)
Transporting Cases 9.2% (0:03:58)
Other 17.0% (0:07:21)
Other
16.0% (0:51:43)
Slide Review
36.0% (1:56:13)
Reporting
34.6% (1:51:38)
100% (0:43:09)
13.4%
Workflow Opportunities
Pathologist T&M study results breakdown of time working cases21
10. Copyright Information
The potential of digital pathology to benefit Canadian
healthcare (and most importantly, Canadian patients)
has barely begun to be realized. Regional, provincial
or national digital networks may make cross-country
consultation a regular event, bringing the advantages
of quality of care, better access, greater efficiency and
cost savings to communities across Canada. These
considerable benefits, however, may be only the
beginning.
Advances in digital pathology technology currently
under development open up possibilities that may
transform the field of pathology. While glass slides
will continue to be part of the process, high-speed,
high-quality imaging will quickly transform these
physical specimens into digital ones that can be
viewed around the globe. Automated matching of
case information with the digitized slides will reduce
clutter and minimize the potential for error that can
occur when physical slides and paperwork become
separated. Central databases will store cases and
samples in digital form, giving pathologists easy
access to the information and creating an ever-
growing resource that can be used for case sharing,
collaboration and teaching. Moreover, once digital,
computer algorithms could perform counting and
finding functions on specimen images to assist
pathologists in their diagnosis.
The delivery of pathology services has been
complicated by an explosion of information related
to the pathological diagnosis of cancers. The sheer
volume of information specific to different cancers
is driving a need for pathologists who are highly
sub-specialized. The development of telepathology
networks can facilitate rapid access to the expertise
provided by sub-specialty pathologists. This, in turn,
can only contribute to the improved delivery of timely,
high-quality, cost-effective care for Canadian patients.
In time, digital pathology will benefit from the full
power of computing. Computer-based algorithms
can be created to assist pathologists in reaching a
definitive diagnosis or to automate routine tasks,
leading to even greater improvements in productivity
and speed.
With the digitization of pathology, the idea of
integrated diagnosis has the potential to be realized.
Care providers across the continuum of care would
have access to information in a more timely manner
without geographical bounds. Studying the health
economics and health outcomes of the impact
of digitization is underway. Workflows for cancer
diagnostics may change to impact outcomes,
turnaround and greater system efficiencies.
Future healthcare practitioners may well look back on the coming
decade as a crossroads in the history of pathology. Today’s
challenge is to make these possibilities a reality.
Future Possibilities
11. 10WHITE PAPER
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