Rex F. Famitangco
Laboratory Administrative Director, Morrill County Community Hospital, Bridgeport, Nebraska, USA
Biggest challenge in pathology? The biggest challenge facing both anatomic and clinical pathology right now is workforce challenges and keeping up with advancements in technology and data analysis. With new technologies constantly emerging, pathologists and laboratory professionals need to stay up to date to provide accurate diagnosis and treatments. Pathology is a field that’s always evolving.
Workforce issues are also a significant challenge. When people don’t fully appreciate the importance of the field and lack understanding of the roles of pathologists and laboratory professionals, this directly impacts the workforce. This can lead to fewer students choosing pathology or medical laboratory science as a career, exacerbating the existing shortage of professionals in the field.
Additionally, the lack of visibility can mean that pathologists and laboratory professionals don’t always get the recognition they deserve, which can affect job satisfaction and retention. This is why this recognition from The Pathologist Magazine is very important, it is uplifting and motivating. It recognizes and appreciates the hard work and dedication of pathologists and laboratory professionals across the globe and it is rewarding to know that one’s efforts are valued and make a positive impact. If our critical contributions to patient care aren’t acknowledged, it can be harder to attract and retain skilled professionals.
Exciting developments and trends? Three things come to mind: Integration of AI and machine learning; digital pathology; and the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Although there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure accuracy, precision and safety, AI and machine learning technologies are revolutionizing the field by improving diagnostic accuracy, speeding up analysis and enabling the discovery of new patterns in complex data sets. AI cannot replace a pathologist but it certainly can assist in identifying abnormalities that might be missed by the human eye, enhancing diagnoses precision and helping in the early detection of diseases like cancer.
Another emerging trend is the use of digital pathology which facilitates remote consultations, collaborative research, breaking down geographical barriers and improving access to expert pathology services, especially in rural areas.
One of the most exciting developments in pathology and medical laboratory science is the advent of NGS technology. It allows for rapid sequencing of entire genomes or specific regions of interests, providing detailed genetic information that can be used for a variety of applications – from diagnosing genetic disorders, to guiding cancer treatment and tracking infectious disease outbreaks.
These advancements excite me because they are transforming pathology and medical laboratory science into a more efficient, precise, automated and data-driven discipline, ultimately leading to better patient care and outcomes.
Missing from the diagnostic toolbox? One area where there is room for improvement in the diagnostic toolbox is the development of more non-invasive diagnostic techniques. A good example is liquid biopsies, which involve analyzing biomarkers in bodily fluids like urine, blood or stool to detect diseases such as cancer. Enhancing the sensitivity and specificity of these tests could provide valuable diagnostic information without the need for invasive procedures like tissue biopsies.
Controversial opinion? One controversial opinion that I have encountered in the past is the debate over the use of patient-authorised direct access testing and the immediate availability of laboratory results at a patient portal and/or electronic health records mobile app.
I believe that allowing patients to order and obtain select laboratory tests without involving their healthcare provider, empowers them to take control of their health, promotes personal health awareness and proactive health management. The immediate availability of laboratory results is ushering a new era of transparency with patients.
On the other hand, some clinicians argue that making test results accessible to patients can lead to misinterpretation of results, unnecessary anxiety – especially when patients get their results before their healthcare provider – and a lack of guidance in understanding the information.
