Did you know there are over 20 subdivisions of specialties in the area of diagnostic pathology? This according to telepathology scholarly articles.
This is why the field of pathology has benefitted so greatly from telepathology. Telepathology can be defined as the use of communicative technology to transfer pathology images and data to remote locations for diagnosis and research.
Now that we have defined telepathology, let’s get into some telepathology talk. Below we will discuss the five things you should know about telepathology. Continue reading to learn what these are!
The Three Main Systems Of Telepathology
Image-based systems are the first in telepathology. They are easy to maneuver and the cost efficient option.
These systems are based on still images though. What this means is that they are not able to take in as much information as the other systems.
Virtual slide systems are a great system in telepathology and digital pathology. A digital scanner scans and creates an image of an entire slide. It then stores it on a computer that can be accessed remotely through the internet.
Real-time systems let pathologists operate microscopes to view slides from a remote location. This is the great thing about this system of telepathology and whole slide imaging.
Pathologists are able to control their microscope from a distance. They can then change the focus and magnification to view and analyze every section of the slide.
Almost No Wait Time On Diagnoses
When pathologists are able to access images of slides remotely, they can make quicker diagnoses. They can also make these diagnoses faster because they are able to bring on other specialists to make those diagnoses with more certainty.
Accurate Evaluations
Telepathology always increases the accuracy of evaluations. Pathologists are able to focus on one slide and see what exactly is in the pathology. Telepathology also makes evaluations more accurate because of the technology used.
Remote Evaluations
If you could describe telepathology in a sentence it would be that telepathology equals remote evaluations. These remote evaluations are important to reduce the risks of contamination.
It is more convenient for pathologists to evaluate slides from a remote location. Through the different types of telepathology, they can also render the best images and analysis of those slides.
Specialist Collaboration And Communication
Telepathology lets pathologists collaborate in real-time with other teams of pathologists or specialists. This allows all of them to view slides at the same time.
An important factor of telepathology is the collaboration and communication between medical professionals. This can help produce the best and most accurate diagnoses.
Telepathology Talk
We hope this information has been enjoyable and informative! These are five things you should know about telepathology.
Contact us with any of your telehealth and telepathology questions and we’ll be happy to help!
