Digital pathology solution at Crosshouse set to transform approach to diagnostics

University Hospital Crosshouse, Kilmarnock, is introducing remote digital pathology capabilities to enable pathologists to socially distance when needed and offer more flexible ways of working.

Philips is providing an IntelliSite Pathology Solution comprising an Ultra Fast Scanner and Image Management System to help reduce pressure on the hospital’s pathology service by streamlining workflow and extending collaboration. In doing so, University Hospital Crosshouse has the possibility of introducing computational pathology, which would enhance diagnostic decision-making, improve efficiency and support the hospital in gaining new insights.

Consultant pathologist and clinical pathology lead Dr Lorna Cottrell said: “We strongly believe that digital pathology offers the potential to dramatically change the way we will be able to deliver our pathology service, which will bring improvements in safety, quality and efficiency. Creating new working patterns will help address many of the challenges facing everyone in pathology over the next few years – even more so in the way we are adapting to a new way of working today due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Home reporting has the potential to be one of the biggest advantages to the way our team works. I am not able to access fibre broadband where I live so initially I thought the speed of image transfer might be too slow; I have noticed very little difference between looking at slides at work and at home.

“It would be exciting to demonstrate that digital pathology solutions have a role to play in many different sized communities – not just hospitals in urban or city centres.”

Lead picture: Consultant pathologist and clinical pathology lead Dr Lorna Cottrell.

Published on page 8 of the July 2020 issue of RAD Magazine.