The topic of "digitalization" is a prevailing theme in the field of pathology. But what exactly is "digital pathology"? It is certainly more than the transition from slide to data carrier. And it is not, as is often assumed, the sub-process of virtual microscopy. In fact, digital pathology encompasses the entire pathological process within a digital environment – starting with the entry of orders by the sender, the tracking of orders, the scanning and visualization of digitized slides, all the way through to the archiving of documents and images. It also includes digital peripherals such as slide scanners, AI image analyzers and cassette and slide printers, which enable and support the transition from the real world to the digital world.
Entering the world of digital pathology with NEXUS / LAB?
Nothing could be simpler! With software solutions from NEXUS / LAB, pathologists are now able to digitalize their entire process chain. From materials received to sending diagnoses, all the way through to billing, all case-related data can be accessed at any time. If necessary, existing IT infrastructures and special equipment such as microscope cameras, immunostainers or cassette and slide printers can be integrated in exactly the same way as intelligent work lists and "virtual microscopy".
Which solutions will you use to enter the world of digital pathology?
Digital pathology – why, how and what?
Rapid advances in research and economic development require histological routines to be adapted to new requirements. The volume of specimens is also continuously increasing from a demographic perspective, as is the complexity of cases. Digitalized pathology enables these challenges to be overcome, as the flexibility to work at different times and in different places makes work faster and more efficient. Supplementary measures for structured diagnosis significantly enhance quality, standardization and interoperability within an institute.
As is the case with any technology project, it is important to have a clear understanding of the actual potential and advantages of the technology being introduced. In most installations, the introduction of virtual microscopy alone does not result in a measurable increase in the efficiency or speed of diagnosis. These increases are only realized with the integration of automated image analyses and support during diagnosis. Advantages in terms of flexibility and interoperability can even be achieved without image analysis. A further important aspect is the choice of providers for scan and image management systems. Systems that do not offer open standards and interfaces inevitably entail an unnecessary dependence on individual manufacturers. Slide scanners and image management systems in particular should be selected in such a way that systems from different manufacturers can be combined with one another.
NEXUS is synonymous with the digitalization of the entire process chain, in-depth expertise and mature IT solutions. We know and live by the field of pathology like no other provider in Europe. This is why it is important that we digitally map the entire pathology process chain – from digital order entry to digital specimen tracking in the laboratory, to virtual microscopy and image analysis, the digital creation and communication of findings, all the way through to the digital archiving of findings and slides. And best of all? We provide you with everything from software to hardware, all the way through to service, from a single source.
Which solutions will you use to enter the world of digital pathology?
Digital order entry system
Digital order entry system
A high volume of specimens combined with hard-copy consignment notes and letters of referral create a huge amount of work and tie up staff capacity when it comes to recording the specimens. The number of specimens is not known until these are delivered to the institute, which makes it virtually impossible to plan staff resources.
These problems can be overcome with an order entry system. LAURIS and IBS allow your senders to be easily connected to a digital order entry system through integration into the existing practice computer system. Examination orders including patient and insurance information are digitally recorded by the sender and transferred to the pathology system. Barcode-supported recording ensures process reliability and prevents mix-ups.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Digital laboratory management
Digital laboratory management
In many institutes, tissue cassettes and slides are still labeled by hand. Legibility and process reliability can therefore only be guaranteed to a limited extent. The time involved also ties up a huge amount of staff capacity.
Ensure the reliability of your laboratory processes with NEXUS / SPECIMEN MANAGEMENT or the LabMan laboratory management solution plus the Histojet and Histojet One laser cassette printers or the Histoprint slide printer. Profile-based material entry can be performed on a customer-specific basis and the barcodes printed on cassettes and slides ensure the necessary level of reliability within this workflow.
Specimens can be tracked in the laboratory and cases can be easily assigned to the diagnosing doctor at the laboratory exit point in no time at all.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Virtual microscopy and image analysis
Virtual microscopy and image analysis
Digitalization is becoming increasingly important within the medical workflow as well. It is becoming increasingly necessary to be able to make diagnoses across locations and exchange specimens for examination by a consultant. Technological progress and thus the increased scanning volume of the available slide scanners has enabled these to be used more and more in routine diagnostics. The use of AI systems, for example for KI67 or HER2 evaluations, provides support for medical diagnosis.
With bidirectional interfaces, NEXUS pathology systems provide the option of connecting slide scanners from various providers as well as the support of state-of-the-art AI.
In-depth system integration at the doctor's workstation ensures efficient diagnosis on the monitor.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Structured creation of diagnostic reports
Structured creation of diagnostic reports
Histological diagnostic reports often have to be created under time pressure without omitting any necessary information relating to the sender, patient and treatment as well as being further editable in electronic format. Further requirements such as extensive research options, statistical evaluations, transfer to the cancer registry and biobank also need to be fulfilled. Support for special diagnostics such as immunohistochemistry, FISH or molecular pathology is also often much desired. At the biopsy and cutting workstation, the macroscopic description of the material in accordance with QM specifications must be written quickly and in a clearly structured manner. Doctors in training benefit from this type of report creation as they are guided through the report.
NEXUS / ADVANCED REPORTING is the comprehensive solution for meeting these requirements. Further support is provided by the integrated Wiki function. The results of diagnoses in the field of gynecological cytology can also be entered in a structured manner via a touchscreen-capable solution.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Digital communication of findings
Digital communication of findings
Findings are still often communicated to senders on paper or by fax. Many German states have now prohibited the sending of findings by fax for reasons of data protection and sending these in paper format is both staff- and cost-intensive.
With IBS and LAURIS, the NEXUS / Pathology systems are the ideal solutions for digitalizing the return of findings to their senders. It makes no difference whether the sender is a hospital or a registered doctor. Through integration into the existing HIS or practice computer system, you can offer your senders an elegant workflow for transferring findings. An extremely diverse range of formats such as LDT3, PDF or HL7 is supported, including combinations thereof. The transmission channels can be individually configured according to the sender.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Digital document & specimen archiving
Digital document and specimen archiving
The increased use of paperless procedures such as digital order entry and the digital sending of diagnoses requires secure storage of the documents that have been created and received. Order forms and letters of referral, diagnostic reports, invoices as well as macro and micro images must be securely stored for 10 years. With the NEXUS / PEGASOS module, we offer an integrated archive solution for all document types. Signed time stamps and automatic re-signature allow the unaltered storage of the documents to be verified at any time.
In the course of 2023, our solution will also support the archiving of blocks that are sorted directly at the microtome via a container labeled with a 2D barcode and later assigned to a storage location. Slides can be archived either directly after the slide scan or by means of specialized multi-barcode scanning systems.
Do you have questions or would you like more information?
Your personal contact for digital pathology
Do you have questions?
We will be happy to help! Whether you're already a customer or are interested in our solutions, our NEXUS / LAB experts have years of experience and expertise in all laboratories as well as pathology, cytology and genetics and will be happy to share their knowledge with you:
Digital / molecular pathology and cytology
Andreas Giebisch
Managing Director
NEXUS / DIGITAL PATHOLOGY
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