Introduction
Electronic technology is not only changing the delivery of medicine, but is also providing higher quality and more efficient means for medical education. The use of digital slides for education of medical students and pathology residents is helping to pave the way for an accelerated acceptance of this technology throughout anatomic pathology.
Students entering medical schools are typically quite technology savvy and are used to learning via a variety of electronic devices including computers, tablets, and smartphones. With the usage of web-based resources in education growing over the last number of decades, digitized pathology and histology lessons are providing a paradigm for higher quality education. In addition, a variety of efficiencies are being recognized that can benefit medical schools’ evertightening education budgets.
The University of North Carolina (UNC) Medical School, Chapel Hill, is ranked as one the top medical schools in the United States. Keeping in the forefront of education, the pathology department has been a pioneer in transforming its education curriculum from microscope-based to fully-digitized lessons that can be used in or outside the classroom.
Utilizing an Aperio ePathology scanner and web-based hosting service, from Leica Biosystems, students can access lessons from any location at all times during the day or night. Students enjoy an improved standardization of learning with the availability of optimal digital slides and consistent annotations. Images can also be shared improving student group-based learning. Most importantly, students can replicate more accurately the diagnostic thought process of a pathologist without the subjective task of learning how to use a microscope. Digital pathology has also provided the educational program with labor and cost efficiencies. Maintenance costs (including labor, small histology lab upkeep, stains, etc.) for glass slide sets were estimated to be approximately $40,000+/year. By moving to digital pathology, the histology laboratory was eliminated and labor costs were cut by 50%. Removal of microscopes provided an annual maintenance cost savings of approximately $7,500 and a replacement cost savings of $2,000 per scope. A cost-effective hosting service has kept the institution’s IT costs to a minimum.
Case Study
UNC has a strong pathology department that is heavily involved in student teaching. Over time, its student numbers have grown from an average of 150 to 180 per class/per year. Over 15 years ago, in the early stages of digital pathology, the university saw an opportunity to reduce its educational costs. These were related to the expensive upkeep of microscopes and the costly replacement of broken glass slides in teaching sets. At the same time, they realized that with digital pathology they could also provide a higher quality and more standardized educational approach for their students. After comparing their costs to digital pathology, they made the decision to replace their microscopes. Initially, they began with an Aperio five slide scanner and images were stored on CDs for viewing purposes during classroom sessions. As easyto- use web-based hosting services began to appear, they saw the benefits this type of service would provide for easy access of lessons both in and outside the classroom. They evaluated several companies and chose the Aperio hosting service provided by Leica Biosystems. It provided better image quality and costs that fit more reasonably within their budget.>> Download the full Application Note as PDF
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