Case Study
Pathology Lab Management 2025 Guide: The Future of Digital Pathology
January 31, 2025
A pathologist, a microscope, and a specimen on a glass slide in a laboratory setting.
This has been the foundation for pathology lab management for well over 150 years and remains the preferred method of diagnosis for the great majority of pathologists to this day. Knowing how fast technology can upset once-accepted ideas with new and better ways of accomplishing the same task, it’s remarkable to think about the microscope’s longevity.
The microscope integrated with anatomic pathology software and LIS pathology lab workflow remains an integral application for most pathologists, however, as time passes this best practice is being challenged and even supplemented by new digital pathology solutions that offer a more efficient and scalable alternative.
The Growth of Pathology Software and Digital Pathology Workflow During the Pandemic
In truth, the genie may already be out of the bottle as digital pathology workflow took on added importance out of necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 26, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services waived the requirement for pathologists to perform diagnostic tests in CLIA-licensed facilities. This opened a previously closed door for pathologists by allowing them to review cases and do sign-outs remotely using digital pathology solutions.
The waiver was enacted to preserve the continuity of patient care while ensuring the safety of pathologists and other lab personnel by minimizing their risk of exposure to the coronavirus.
Learn More: Advances in Digital Pathology
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Digital Pathology
The benefits of digital pathology continue to grow because this new pathology lab software application offers the option of off-site consultations with multiple colleagues in the field, increased efficiency, and faster turnaround times.
Digitization has also led to the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence for computer-aided patient diagnosis, and technological advances with digital scanners and cloud storage data solutions have helped propel the movement forward.
Learn More: Anatomic Pathology Software Roundtable Recap: Balancing Pressures with the Promise of New Technology
The digital archival and retrieving of specimens is also much easier than attempting to retrieve glass slides from archive shelves, and being able to transmit images over long distances rather than physically shipping glass slides is also a big time-saver.
So, is your lab actively using digital pathology workflow, or is it at least planning to explore the benefits of digital pathology soon?
On-Demand Webinar: Utilizing Digital Pathology Solutions to Help Offset Today’s Laboratory Challenges
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What Do Our Lab Partners Think About Digital Pathology Solutions?
While the overall benefits of digital pathology are clearly worth pursuing, it may not be the right choice for every pathology group at the moment.
With that in mind, we at LigoLab recently conducted a survey with several of our lab partners. Below is a sample of the responses we received.
Q: Are you using, or do you plan to implement a digital pathology workflow at your pathology laboratory?
Darlene S. (Project Manager - Tampa, FL) - Yes, the laboratory is fully committed to digital pathology workflow with all cases being fully scanned and archived. The laboratory also applies digital image analysis and AI tools to the practice of pathology.
Stacey G. (Project Director - San Antonio, TX) - Our laboratory supports digital pathology, but not for diagnostic purposes. We are open to the idea of implementing digital pathology solutions for diagnostic purposes within the next 3-5 years.
Shamim A. (LIS Administrator- San Diego, CA) - Digital pathology is something we're currently looking into, especially with any research-oriented cases we're working on. We're in the early stages of the process but it is likely that we will implement this in the next few years.
Pam E. (Billing Analyst - Pensacola, FL) - Yes, on a limited scale. Never on a primary diagnosis but for additional stains, we are piloting our slide scanner now.
Digital Pathology Drawbacks?
Are there potential drawbacks in addition to the benefits of digital pathology?
Yes, there are a few.
One is the reluctance that some pathologists might still feel when contemplating the move away from the microscope. It’s understandable that those trained in standard pathology lab workflow might feel more confident reviewing samples in the traditional way. But digital pathology is widely being used as a training tool for future pathologists, so going forward, this likely will not be as big of an issue.
Digital pathology also requires very high quality and high-resolution files, and this results in enormous file sizes, a potential storage issue that labs will need to address. Computer upgrades with higher resolution screens will also likely be needed, as will a strong internet connection and a robust LIS laboratory information system software for the transfer of the files.
Even with the drawbacks, however, the consensus among lab professionals is that the subfield of digital pathology will continue to make advances and for most industry professionals, the advantages far outweigh the negatives.
The pandemic forced pathologists to work from home and removed a major regulatory barrier for them to do so.
Is this the new normal?
Only time will tell but it’s a good bet that digital pathology solutions are here to stay and a strong alternative to the microscope for many forward-thinking pathologists across the country.
Article References
- College of American Pathologist, Remote Sign-Out Cases With Digital Pathology FAQs
- Digital Pathology Association, Digital Pathology FAQ
- Shelley Farra, Digital Pathology Challenges, News-Medica-Life Sciences
- Isis Ricano-Ponce, Clinical Pathology Goes Digital, Clinical Lab Manager
- The Medical Futurist, The Digital Future of Pathology, Medical Futurist
LigoLab: LIS System Software and Much More!
What’s the point of having the best laboratory information system/LIS software solutions and best practices if you don’t share them with others?
At LigoLab, we’ve helped out anatomic pathology, clinical laboratory, and molecular diagnostics laboratories grow and thrive faster since 2006. Over the past two decades, we’ve collaborated with some of the most dynamic and forward-thinking laboratories in the country, and over that time we’ve gained an incredible amount of expertise in the pathology lab management and LIS software domain.
We maintain regular contact with our partners and take great pride in the fact that our LIS lab informatics solution - the LigoLab LIS & RCM Laboratory Information Platform - continues to evolve daily, helping them deliver new and better ways to serve their customers and support patient care. In turn, these same labs are constantly evaluating their own workflows and processes. Nothing is static.
Learn More: Questions All Pathology Labs Should Ask When Evaluating LIS Software and Support
Note: This blog post is the third in a series of posts highlighting best practice LIS software solutions these labs have employed to better serve their customers and grow their businesses faster.
If you missed either one of the first two posts, click on the links below.
Pathology Lab Management 2025 Guide: Part 1: Laboratory Information System Solutions and Best Practices
Pathology Lab Management: 2025 Guide: Part 2: How Experts in the Field are Utilizing Best Practices to Thrive.
