NYU Langone Health has launched a digital pathology program that transforms disease diagnosis from microscopes to high-resolution images that can be shared in real time across a hospital network. This change provides unprecedented clarity in the display of human tissue samples, reduces diagnosis time, and enhances collaboration in an area that remains a critical but invisible driver of patient care. .
“Since the early days of pathology, our job has been to sit in the office hunched over a microscope after slides are delivered to us manually,” says Saeed T., Director of Clinical and Bone Digital Pathology.・Hoda, MD, says: in soft tissue pathology from New York University Langone, and one of about 100 bone and soft tissue pathologists in the country. “Starting this week, images can now be delivered to the appropriate pathologist in real time, regardless of where in the network a patient is receiving care.”
This technological advancement comes at a critical time. The country faces a shortage of pathologists while disease rates skyrocket, with only a small number of pathologists confirming diagnoses that affect millions of patients. Pathologists can increase work efficiency by avoiding risks associated with physical slides, such as storage issues, slide deterioration, and time delays, creating a more sustainable healthcare infrastructure.
Additionally, this initiative has created new job opportunities for the hospital, hiring 24 digital pathology coordinators, and creating entirely new career paths in the healthcare field.
Joanne F. Cangiarella, MD, associate director of clinical operations in the Department of Pathology at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, emphasized the volume and intensity of pathologists’ work. “Our team scrutinizes samples from patients we will never meet and obsess over tiny, potentially life-changing details. We are now using digital pathology to make this work much easier. We are able to perform at a higher level, allowing us to improve on the excellent care we already provide.” ”
Digitalization of medical images goes beyond improving efficiency and lays the foundation for AI-assisted diagnosis.
One of the first U.S. health systems to fully embrace digital pathology, NYU Langone is advancing patient disease detection and leveraging AI to alleviate pressing healthcare bottlenecks. We are encouraging a shift in medical treatment that is gender-neutral. ”
Nader Merabi, NYU Langone Executive Vice President, Associate Dean and Chief Digital and Information Officer
Expanding on this possibility, Sean Hacking, MD, Director of Digital Pathology Research, explained: “This program diversifies our diagnostic toolbox. Digital images will power the AI models we are building to identify cancer and other diseases at the earliest and most appropriate time.” For patients, it can have a huge impact on treatment options. ”
The digital program aims to reduce the time from test to treatment, improve collaboration between healthcare teams, and give pathologists a greater say at the bedside when patients have questions about their diagnosis. It’s about being able to do that. The impact is already being felt throughout the hospital.
“Yesterday, I attended our first ‘digital’ tumor board meeting,” Dr. Hoda said. “We had instant access to all cases in real time while discussing with patients. Previously, retrieving a glass slide from storage could delay clinical decisions by hours or even days.Answers For patients seeking treatment, the wait can feel like an eternity.”
NYU Langone has a multi-year partnership with Philips to implement technology including digital pathology. Martijn Hartjes, clinical informatics business leader at Philips, echoes Mherabi’s assessment that digital scanners are the starting point for enhancing pathologists’ capabilities.
“NYU Langone Health is setting new standards in high-precision diagnosis and treatment by embracing digital pathology and switching to an all-digital workflow. We are experiencing efficiency gains of 15 to 25 percent,” Hartjes said. “Digital pathology also enables the ability to integrate AI, further increasing efficiency and opening new possibilities for disease detection.At Philips, we recognize the challenges of moving from analog to digital workflows. “We are focused on delivering technology and services that will help smooth the transition and give clinicians the tools they need to deliver better care to more patients.” ”
