Digitization – By the Lab, For the Lab
Thoughtful software design and implementation can smooth the transition to digital pathology
sponsored by Fujifilm
For Fujifilm, a global leader in digital imaging in healthcare, the move to pathology is a natural one. Its first step into the field of digital pathology is a partnership with Inspirata, whose pathologist-designed Dynamyx software Fujifilm now distributes. “Dynamyx software has three elements: a fully integrated workflow tool, an evidence tray that collects all the digital interactions pathologists have with the case, and an image utilization tool,” explains Tim Wing, Fujifilm’s Head of Digital Pathology. The software also has an open interface to any scanner or laboratory information management system (LIMS), as well as an open Application Program Interface (API).
Particularly noteworthy is the fact that Dynamyx software serves the clinician, rather than the research lab. “It can connect and archive to anything it needs to – and both first-and second-read image analysis tools can be embedded in the workflow, including automatic flags on cases that contain suspicious material.” And the software’s usefulness doesn’t end there. “It also has a digital management tool for the laboratory, specifically designed by biomedical scientists, that allows them to quality control, scan, and evaluate slides, all within the histology workstation.” It’s clear that the innovative Dynamyx software prioritizes the needs and interests of the clinical laboratory team.
Becoming One with Digital Pathology
Ashley Ballard, Senior Biomedical Scientist at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, Bournemouth, UK
Tell us about One Dorset…
One Dorset Pathology is a threehospital network that aims to improve productivity, quality, and turnaround times while also reducing costs. We have taken our first steps towards this goal with the recent implementation of a new shared LIMS. The main benefit of digitization within the network will be the ability to share histology workloads. We face an increasing workload and a reduced pool of pathologists – so we hope that digitizing will make case sharing easier, smoothing workloads. We also hope that this will release productivity and quality improvements across the network, leading to improved patient outcomes.
What led you to choose Fujifilm as your digital solution?
Fujifilm offered the best package in terms of the scanner compatibility, IMS, and storage solutions. We hope to implement a cloud storage solution, so we needed a supplier who could support us with this. It also helped that we had previously run a successful digital pathology trial with Fujifilm.
What advice do you have for others seeking to digitize?
Get full engagement from staff at all levels – and start as soon as possible.
Making the Move
Rahul Deb, Consultant Histopathologist and Breast MDT Lead, Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK
How do you use digital pathology in your lab?
Several processes in our laboratory are already digitized. This includes slide and paraffin block barcoding and digital dictation. We also use an automated pro forma reporting system for most cancer cases where a minimum dataset pro forma is required. As a result, we can authorize our cases as soon as we have examined them under the microscope, rather than waiting for reports to be typed. The next logical step for us is to move to digital images – and our aim is to get as close to 100 percent digitization as possible.
What led you to choose Fujifilm as your digital solution?
In our tender, we asked for an end-to-end digital pathology solution. Fujifilm’s offering met most of our department’s requirements and was also financially competitive. The Dynamyx software is vendor-neutral and will allow us to remain relevant as our needs and equipment change in the future. Introducing digital pathology will pose many challenges, but Fujifilm are proactive and are happy to work with us to overcome them.
What does the future hold for pathology?
Cellular pathology is at an exciting crossroads. Digitization of slide images is not just replacing the microscope with a screen; it has the power to transform the entire laboratory workflow – increasing speed and throughput and reducing waste. It will also allow AI and machine learning to be used in ways we have never seen before. Sending cases away for second opinions will take minutes rather than weeks. Overall, I think digitizing pathology will be the most transformative thing we do in our lifetimes.
