How digitization is transforming anatomical pathology - Medipath's experience feedback

How digitization is transforming anatomical pathology - Medipath's experience feedback

Medical comprises of 28 geographical locations, 11 technical platforms on more than 100 associate pathologists who hold the 100% of the capital. Our interest in digital technology dates back to 2013. In 2016 we realized that the future lay in augmented digital pathology, convinced of the contribution of artificial intelligence or more generally, of medical efficiency in the services of patients.

We decided that we will actively support change, rather than be subject to it. During 2019, we began digitization at our Fréjus site, with the acquisition of our first scanner.
We chose a solution that could be easily integrated without the need for additional in-house skills, and one that gave us every guarantee in terms of standardizing the quality of the images produced. We benefited from Phillips’ international experience in network architecture, and from support in line with our expectations. Integrating these innovations into our processes was akin to plug-and-play.

We are now receiving first-rate support from French team, tasked with rolling out the solution across all our sites. What's more, our partnership is ongoing with the installation of new generation Philips SG300 slide scanner at a number of our sites.

Digitalization completely transforms the care pathway. The speed of image acquisition thanks to these scanners, means that the process of analyzing and reading digitized slides is more fluid. All of the techniques required for diagnosis, even the most specialized, can be digitized, thereby optimizing the patient pathway. Sharing of the slides with experts is also facilitated, thus improving the timeless of specialist opinions.
Moreover, the solution is connected to the various operating systems used by pathologists.

The artificial intelligence algorithm used in our routine has shown its high performance level in getting as close as possible to ground truth as verified by several experts. This algorithm produces a colour mapping system called heatmap for lesions in order to detect all these histological criteria required for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in particular.

Digitalization of case read by pathologists and the addition of artificial intelligence algorithm provides solid guarantees and ensuring that every patient wherever they are in the country, can access an excellent level of diagnosis and ultimately, of care. Patients, especially those in oncology, can access their diagnosis made with the help of “augmented pathology”, within the optimal timeframe of just a few days.

Medipath is a true player in the digital transformation of pathology thanks to its acquisition of the latest generation Philips scanners. As such it's whole partner network of healthcare institution can reap the benefit of this cutting edge techniques. This efficiency and local diagnostic expertise enhance the image of these institutions when it comes to patient care.

A transition, even a partial one, to digital pathology, implies technical and organizational change. Having a reliable partner is therefore essential. Philips support is a genuine asset in this transformation strategy. For instance, we had a thorough discussion with them on the best way to optimize the implementation of digitization, prior to acquiring the scanner. The partnership between Phillips and Medipath mean we can enter relationships with the R&D team, feed back or expectation as users, and let them benefit from our experience, and our vision of digital pathology within a multi-site private group.