title: Digital pathology and anatomic pathology laboratory information system integration to support digital pathology sign-out.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The adoption of digital pathology offers benefits over labor-intensive, time-consuming, and error-prone manual processes. However, because most workflow and laboratory transactions are centered around the anatomical pathology laboratory information system (APLIS), adoption of digital pathology ideally requires integration with the APLIS. A digital pathology system (DPS) integrated with the APLIS was recently implemented at our institution for diagnostic use. We demonstrate how such integration supports digital workflow to sign-out anatomical pathology cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Workflow begins when pathology cases get accessioned into the APLIS (CoPathPlus). Glass slides from these cases are then digitized (Omnyx VL120 scanner) and automatically uploaded into the DPS (Omnyx(®) Integrated Digital Pathology (IDP) software v.1.3). The APLIS transmits case data to the DPS via a publishing web service. The DPS associates scanned images with the correct case using barcode labels on slides and information received from the APLIS. When pathologists remotely open a case in the DPS, additional information (e.g. gross pathology details, prior cases) gets retrieved from the APLIS through a query web service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following validation of this integration, pathologists at our institution have signed out more than 1000 surgical pathology cases in a production environment. Integration between the APLIS and DPS enabled pathologists to review digital slides while simultaneously having access to pertinent case metadata. The introduction of a digital workflow eliminated costly manual tasks involving matching of glass slides and avoided delays waiting for glass slides to be delivered.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Integrating the DPS and APLIS were instrumental for successfully implementing a digital solution at our institution for pathology sign-out. The integration streamlined our digital sign-out workflow, diminished the potential for human error related to matching slides, and improved the sign-out experience for pathologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Huazhang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Omnyx, LLC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Birsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Navid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farahani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Douglas J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: Information Services Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piccoli
authors.affiliation: Information Services Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Leary
authors.affiliation: Information Services Division, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McHugh
authors.affiliation: Omnyx, LLC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyman
authors.affiliation: Omnyx, LLC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stratman
authors.affiliation: Omnyx, LLC, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Vanja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kvarnstrom
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yousem
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Liron
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pantanowitz
keywords: Digital pathology; integration; interface; laboratory information system; whole slide imaging