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. 2021 Apr 7:12:17.
doi: 10.4103/jpi.jpi_67_20. eCollection 2021.

Dissecting the Business Case for Adoption and Implementation of Digital Pathology: A White Paper from the Digital Pathology Association

Giovanni Lujan  1 , Jennifer C Quigley  2 , Douglas Hartman  3 , Anil Parwani  1 , Brian Roehmholdt  4 , Bryan Van Meter  5 , Orly Ardon  6 , Matthew G Hanna  6 , Dan Kelly  7 , Chelsea Sowards  8 , Michael Montalto  9 , Marilyn Bui  10 , Mark D Zarella  11 , Victoria LaRosa  12 , Gerard Slootweg  13 , Juan Antonio Retamero  13 , Mark C Lloyd  14 , James Madory  15 , Doug Bowman  16
Affiliations

Dissecting the Business Case for Adoption and Implementation of Digital Pathology: A White Paper from the Digital Pathology Association

Giovanni Lujan et al. J Pathol Inform. .

Abstract

We believe the switch to a digital pathology (DP) workflow is imminent and it is essential to understand the economic implications of conversion. Many aspects of the adoption of DP will be disruptive and have a direct financial impact, both in short term costs, such as investment in equipment and personnel, and long term revenue potential, such as improved productivity and novel tests. The focus of this whitepaper is to educate pathologists, laboratorians and other stakeholders about the business and monetary considerations of converting to a digital pathology workflow. The components of a DP business plan will be thoroughly summarized, and guidance will be provided on how to build a case for adoption and implementation as well as a roadmap for transitioning from an analog to a digital pathology workflow in various laboratory settings. It is important to clarify that this publication is not intended to list prices although some financials will be mentioned as examples. The authors encourage readers who are evaluating conversion to a DP workflow to use this paper as a foundational guide for conducting a thorough and complete assessment while incorporating in current market pricing. Contributors to this paper analyzed peer-reviewed literature and data collected from various institutions, some of which are mentioned. Digital pathology will change the way we practice through facilitating patient access to expert pathology services and enabling image analysis tools and assays to aid in diagnosis, prognosis, risk stratification and therapeutic selection. Together, they will result in the delivery of valuable information from which to make better decisions and improve the health of patients.

Keywords: Business case; clinical laboratory; digital pathology; implementation; patient care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Mark Lloyd is an employee of Inspirata, Inc. Gerard Slootweg is an employee of Philips. Bryan Van Meter is an employee of Barco, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Information Technology infrastructure components
Figure 2
Figure 2
Digital imaging added value proposition (Courtesy of Orly Ardon, Memorial Sloan Kettering)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Projected shortage of practicing pathologists in the next 5 years Digital Pathology and Image Analysis Can Help Alleviate Pathologist Shortage (Courtesy of Orly Ardon, Memorial Sloan Kettering)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Current trends in diagnostic laboratories. The case for improved productivity (Courtesy of Orly Ardon, Memorial Sloan Kettering)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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