Guidelines from the Canadian Association of Pathologists for establishing a telepathology service for anatomic pathology using whole-slide imaging.
The use of telepathology for clinical applications in Canada has steadily become more attractive over the last 10 years, driven largely by its potential to provide rapid pathology consulting services throughout the country regardless of the location of a particular institution. Based on this trend, the president of the Canadian Association of Pathologists asked a working group consisting of pathologists, technologists, and healthcare administrators from across Canada to oversee the development of guidelines to provide Canadian pathologists with basic information on how to implement and use this technology. The guidelines were systematically developed, based on available medical literature and the clinical experience of early adopters of telepathology in Canada. While there are many different modalities and applications of telepathology, this document focuses specifically on whole-slide imaging as applied to intraoperative pathology consultation (frozen section), primary diagnosis, expert or second opinions and quality assurance activities. Applications such as hematopathology, microbiology, tumour boards, education, research and technical and/or standard-related issues are not covered.
Montreal Children's Hospital, Québec, Canada.
Chantal
C
Bernard
Health Sciences Centre, St. John's Newfoundland, Canada.
S A
SA
Chandrakanth
Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, British-Columbia, Canada.
Ian Scott
IS
Cornell
Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
James
J
Dalton
University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Andrew
A
Evans
The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
Bertha M
BM
Garcia
Formerly with Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Chris
C
Godin
Dalhousie University, Saint John Regional Hospital, Horizon Health Network, New-Brunswick, Canada.
Marek
M
Godlewski
The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Gerard H
GH
Jansen
Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Amin
A
Kabani
CHR Rimouski Neigette, Québec, Canada.
Said
S
Louahlia
Diagnostic Services of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Lisa
L
Manning
InteriorHealth Authority, British-Columbia, Canada.
Raymond
R
Maung
Laboratory Informatics, Vancouver Island Health Authority, British Columbia, Canada.
Lisa
L
Moore
Laboratory Diagnostics and Blood Services Branch, Ministry of Health, British-Columbia, Canada.
Joanne
J
Philley
Royal Alexandra Hospital, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Jack
J
Slatnik
Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
John
J
Srigley
Eastern Ontario Regional Laboratory Association, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Alain
A
Thibault
Canada Health Infoway, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Donald Daniel
DD
Picard
Canada Health Infoway, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Hanah
H
Cracower
CHU de Québec, Québec, Canada.
Bernard
B
Tetu
Anatomical pathology; telepathology; whole slide imaging