Telepathology training in a master of cytology degree course

Abstract

We have investigated the changes in the workflow of the cytologist due to the introduction of telepathology. These changes occur in two stages. The first is the use of telepathology as a support methodology using external providers (i.e. outside the hospital) to digitize the slides. The second is the use of telepathology in routine laboratory operations using an internal scanner to digitize the slides. To improve courses in the Master of Cytology programme at the University of La Sapienza, new learning modules were designed, which were made available via the wide area computer network to familiarize students with the new technologies. The new methodologies had three benefits. The first was the high level of knowledge for the student. The second was the cost advantage to the student, who did not need to study in a medical laboratory to participate in the teaching. The third was the cost advantage to the hospital: as laboratories become freed from academic work, they become more available for clinical use.

Integration of Tablet Technologies in the e-Laboratory of Cytology: A Health Technology Assessment

“…Digital cytology 1,17-19 integrates medical knowledge and properly designed ICT to investigate the morphological alterations in different degrees of morbidity directly on a digital image (e-slide); it is currently playing an important role in the healthcare system to change and improve the workflows 4,5,20 in the cytology laboratory. The introduction of tablet technology, ranging from cooperative diagnosis up to teleconsulting and telediagnosis, is vital to the evolution of the healthcare system 15,16 for telemedicine and e-health applications of teleimaging.…”

“…Until recently, e-slides were mainly exchanged using personal computers as clients, which rendered it possible to successfully set up effective networks for teleconsulting and e-learning. 1,4,5 In previous studies 6,7 we showed the importance of using health technology assessment (HTA) tools in telemedicine and ehealth for the assessment of both the acceptance and performance of a telemedicine solution. In 2008, we successfully investigated the acceptance and performance of virtual microscopy using PC platforms with a dedicated HTA tool.…”

How Tablet Technology Is Going to Change Cooperative Diagnosis in the Cytology e-Laboratory

“…igital cytology is a field of digital pathology 1,2 that, through the integration of suitably designed information and communications technologies and medical knowledge, allows the investigation of cellular morphological alterations directly in a digital image called a virtual slide or e-slide [2][3][4] in a cytology e-laboratory. The e-slides are the product of a digitalization workflow produced by means of a heterogeneous process through the use of dedicated scanners starting from a standard microscope slide.…”

“…Assessment of the introduction of tablet technologies in teleconsulting and e-learning applications will be the focus of future study. 3,4 We trust that stakeholders will focus on this field in order to translate these research experiences into routine and practice.…”

Support diagnostique en cancérologie : techniques complémentaires et apport de la télépathologie, exemple de l’hématopathologie

“…L'enseignement [6,10] bénéficie aussi de cette technologie de transmission. Plusieurs expériences ont déjà été menées ainsi, les échanges rapides entre plusieurs laboratoires de pathologie permettent une aide à la formation à la fois pratique pour les techniques d'immunohistochimie mais aussi théorique par l'analyse des mêmes territoires pathologiques.…”