Standardization Efforts of Digital Pathology in Europe

Abstract

Abstract.Background: EURO-TELEPATH is a European COST Action IC0604. It started in 2007 and will end in November 2011. Its main objectives are evaluating and validating the common technological framework and communication standards required to access, transmit, and manage digital medical records by pathologists and other medical specialties in a networked environment.Business modelling: Working Group 1, "Business Modelling in Pathology," has designed main pathology processes -Frozen Study, Formalin Fixed Specimen Study, Telepathology, Cytology, and Autopsy -using Business Process Modelling Notation (BPMN).Informatics standards in pathology: Working Group 2 has been dedicated to promoting the application of informatics standards in pathology, collaborating with Integrating Healthcare Enterprise (IHE), Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM), Health Level Seven (HL7), and other standardization bodies.Conclusions: Health terminology standardization research has become a topic of great interest. Future research work should focus on standardizing automatic image analysis and tissue microarrays imaging. Digital pathologyThe concept of digital pathology includes the use of multiple digital images (gross studies, microscopic, and, molecular pathology images), including whole slide microscopic digital images that are integrated with pathology information systems, enterprise image repositories, and electronic health records. The main challenges in digital pathology include educational, technological, and complexity of health information systems. 2210-7177/12/$27.50

Digital Pathology and Federalism

“…16 Of course, substantial challenges accompany the establishment of digital pathology, including technical and workflow issues, standardization, and whole-slide imaging validation, and these are currently being addressed by the College of American Pathologists and other organizations. [17][18][19][20][21] With tenacious cost and storage issues quickly becoming manageable, the technical path is rapidly being cleared for pathologists' use of whole-slide imaging for primary diagnosis across the United States.…”

Development of Emergency Medicine in Europe

“…In the EU, currency, passports, and some professional qualifications have already been harmonized, to “ensure the free movement of people, goods, and services.” The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (acronym “COST”) is a European intergovernmental framework for improving coordination of research (including medical research) across Europe . COST Action IC 0604 was a project that concluded in 2011 with standardization of digital medical images …”

Recent development and perspectives of virtual slides (VS) and telepathology in Europe

“…VS are provided with their own specific image analyzing system that focuses on evaluation of suitable immunohistochemistry scores such as Her2_neu or hormone receptors in breast cancer. Obligatory VS standards are still missing [6,7]. …”