scholarly journals Using Dynamic Virtual Microscopy to Train Pathology Residents During the Pandemic: Perspectives on Pathology Education in the Age of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237428952110068
Author(s):  
Robert J. Christian ◽  
Mandy VanSandt
Keyword(s):  
Light Microscope ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Educational Innovation ◽  
Digital Camera ◽  
Teaching Experience ◽  
Virtual Microscopy ◽  
Available Technology ◽  
Pathology Education

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced educational programs, including pathology residency, to move to a physically distanced learning environment. Tandem microscopic review (also known as “double-scoping”) of pathology slides is a traditional cornerstone of pathology education. However, this requires the use of a double- or multi-headed optical light microscope which is unfortunately not amenable to physical distancing. The loss of double-scoping has forced educational innovation in order to continue teaching microscopy. Digital pathology options such as whole slide imaging could be considered; however, financial constraints felt by many departments often render this option cost-prohibitive. Alternatively, a shift toward teaching via dynamic virtual microscopy offers a readily available, physically distanced, and cost-conscious alternative for pathology education. Required elements include a standard light microscope, a mounted digital camera, computers, and videoconferencing software to share a slide image with the learner(s). Through survey data, we show immediate benefits include maintaining the essence of the traditional light microscope teaching experience, and additional gains were discovered such as the ability for educators and learners to annotate images in real time, among others. Existing technology may not be initially optimized for a dynamic virtual experience, resulting in lag time with image movement, problems focusing, image quality issues, and a narrower field of view; however, these technological barriers can be overcome through hardware and software optimization. Herein, we share the experience of establishing a dynamic virtual microscopy educational system in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, utilizing readily available technology in the pathology department of a major academic medical center.

scholarly journals Predicting Opportunities and Challenges Prior to Transitioning to Digital Pathology: An Interview Envisioning Study with 11 Pathologists

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-12
Author(s):  
Emily S. Patterson ◽  
Lauren Mansour ◽  
Metin N. Gurcan ◽  
Zaibo Li ◽  
Anil Parwani
Keyword(s):  
Digital Libraries ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Primary Diagnosis ◽  
Whole Slide Imaging ◽  
Implementation Challenges ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
A Current

There is growing interest in implementing whole-slide imaging (WSI) for primary diagnosis. Ten subspecialized pathologists (2-39 years of experience) were interviewed from diverse subspecialty areas in a large academic medical center. Relevant semi-structured interview questions included image quality, workflow, and usability during clinical use. Analysis revealed that WSI implementation would raise some concerns: 1) delaying turn-around time for preliminary diagnoses as well as final reports, 2) delaying access to order ancillary tests, which could impact scheduling for some patients for follow-on surgery, 3) making it hard to track what has been reviewed and at what level of magnification, 4) potentially increase wrist pain from using a mouse or neck pain while viewing the monitor, and 5) increase vulnerability when a computer, monitor, or network goes down. However, WSI implementation would enable 1) increased flexibility for slide access remotely during nights, weekends, and work trips, 2) easier consults among peers and with mentors, 3) easier detection and recovery when images are routed to the wrong person, 4) creating digital libraries, including previous slides from a current patient, and 5) giving greater access to images for presentations, publications, and to other clinical personnel. Implementing digital slides and associated workflow will introduce many challenges and barriers. Studies such as the current one are much needed to explore the pathologist’s perspective on these workflow and implementation challenges prior to and during the installation of the digital pathology systems. These perspectives are important to understand in order to improve the experience of the pathologists and lab personnel as they interact with these systems.

Challenges for Transformative Innovation in Emerging Digital Health Organizations: advocating service design to address the multifaceted healthcare ecosystem

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthur A Boni
Keyword(s):  
Joint Venture ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Digital Health ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Digital Pathology ◽  
Service Design ◽  
Digital Radiology ◽  
Value Propositions ◽  
Ibm Watson

This article uses mini- case studies of three early stage organizations that pursued different pathways or models for bringing emerging, transformative digital technologies to the healthcare market.  These organizations were each focused on different applications of digital health: Stentor was a venture capital backed, university spinoff focused in the field of digital radiology; Omnyx was formed as a joint venture (JV) by an academic medical center and industrial partner to transform the field of digital pathology; and, IBM Watson operating as an IBM unit, focused on the promise of artificial intelligence and machine learning for broad uses in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Each took a different organizational and business model path that resulted in mixed outcomes. While there are always many reasons for success or failure, we observe that these digital healthcare markets are more complex than typical consumer or technology markets. While any solution in healthcare demands patient centricity; healthcare markets additionally require a strong understanding and appreciation of the supporting ecosystem or network consisting of physicians and providers; and of constraints from payers and regulators.  The value propositions of each member of the ecosystem must be understood and addressed. To meet this challenge, we advocate the formation of an integrated multidisciplinary commercialization team that addresses the multidimensional value proposition across the company life cycle. And importantly, that team should work collaboratively, and include service design as a key team member - along with the technology, business, marketing, reimbursement, and regulatory components.

Gender differences in career progress and satisfaction in an academic medical center

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 95-104 ◽  
Author(s):  
JoAnn Manson ◽  
Beverly Rockhill ◽  
Margery Resnick ◽  
Eleanor Shore ◽  
Carol Nadelson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
Career Progress

Mo1760 Assessment of Postoperative Complications in Patients With IBD. A Single Academic Medical Center Experience

2013 ◽  
Vol 144 (5) ◽  
pp. S-1109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha J. Quade ◽  
Joshua Mourot ◽  
Anita Afzali ◽  
Mika N. Sinanan ◽  
Scott D. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical

scholarly journals Deferring Routine Wrist Radiography Does Not Affect Management of de Quervain Tendinopathy Patients

2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Liu ◽  
Chia Wu ◽  
David Steinberg ◽  
David Bozentka ◽  
L. Levin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Examination ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Diagnostic Study ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Radiographic Findings ◽  
Academic Medical ◽  
De Quervain ◽  
Clinical Records ◽  
Surgical Release

Background Obtaining wrist radiographs prior to surgeon evaluation may be wasteful for patients ultimately diagnosed with de Quervain tendinopathy (DQT). Questions/Purpose Our primary question was whether radiographs directly influence treatment of patients presenting with DQT. A secondary question was whether radiographs influence the frequency of injection and surgical release between cohorts with and without radiographs evaluated within the same practice. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with DQT by fellowship-trained hand surgeons at an urban academic medical center were identified retrospectively. Basic demographics and radiographic findings were tabulated. Clinical records were studied to determine whether radiographic findings corroborated history or physical examination findings, and whether management was directly influenced by radiographic findings. Frequencies of treatment with injection and surgery were separately tabulated and compared between cohorts with and without radiographs. Results We included 181 patients (189 wrists), with no differences in demographics between the 58% (110 wrists) with and 42% (79 wrists) without radiographs. Fifty (45%) of imaged wrists demonstrated one or more abnormalities; however, even for the 13 (12%) with corroborating history and physical examination findings, wrist radiography did not directly influence a change in management for any patient in this series. No difference was observed in rates of injection or surgical release either upon initial presentation, or at most recent documented follow-up, between those with and without radiographs. No differences in frequency, types, or total number of additional simultaneous surgical procedures were observed for those treated surgically. Conclusion Wrist radiography does not influence management of patients presenting DQT. Level of Evidence This is a level III, diagnostic study.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document