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Author: Christos Evangelou.
Speaking at the Digital Pathology & AI Congress: USA, Orly Ardon of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center explored the benefits and potential considerations of a phased implementation approach for digital pathology. She addressed challenges such as resource allocation, infrastructure building, staff training, and ongoing operations, providing valuable insights for organizations at various stages of digital pathology adoption.
The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center started its digital pathology adoption journey in 2008 when the institute purchased its first slide scanner and began digitizing. They implemented barcoding in 2012 but only transitioned to clinical workflows in 2020, when New York State conditionally approved a remote review of digital pathology images because of the pandemic. This allowed the institute to implement a phased implementation approach with gradual investment in technologies and infrastructure.
During her presentation, Dr. Ardon discussed lessons from their experience with phased digital pathology adoption, providing practical insights and best practices for organizations embarking on their digital transformation journey. She emphasized the importance of understanding institutional-specific needs and goals when setting up digital pathology operations. She noted that following a phased implementation strategy allows organizations to gradually introduce digital pathology capabilities while managing resources and mitigating risks. Additional benefits of this approach include the ability to assess and address workflow issues, identify suitable scanners and digital tools before scaling up adoption, optimize integration with laboratory information management systems, train existing staff, and maximize digital efficiency within the laboratory.
Moreover, Dr. Ardon discussed the financial considerations associated with digital pathology adoption, as the costs of additional resources, such as infrastructure and personnel, can be a barrier for many organizations. By adopting a phased approach, organizations can better allocate resources and build a compelling business case for digital pathology implementation. Dr. Ardon recommended the use of the Return on Investment (ROI) calculator developed by the Digital Pathology Association (DPA) to help institutions assess the financial implications of transitioning to a digital pathology system.
Dr. Ardon also discussed strategies for change management, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement based on real-world experiences. She recommended using available resources, engaging vendors early in the development of the digital pathology plan, and preparing for additional middleware and software solutions for scaling to clinical operations. She also noted that the integration of Al tools for pathologist sign-out workflows should follow the integration of digital pathology into existing workflows.
By allowing for gradual investment and sufficient time for training and cultural and organizational changes, phrased adoption of digital pathology minimizes financial risks and increases the chances of transition success. However, Dr. Ardon cautioned that new disruptive technologies evolve and cost savings are slow to realize, which may act as barriers to full adoption.
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Christos Evangelou is a Medical Writer at Pathology News. This Report from the 1oth Digital Pathology & AI Congress: USA is reproduced with permission and thanks.
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