Telepathology can benefit your Organ Procurement Organization greatly. But if you’re skeptical, click here to learn the cold hard facts.
Telepathology is saving lives, and if you’re in the organ procurement business, it’s a necessary tool for your company. Even so, many businesses are reluctant to dive into the world of virtual assessments.
They shouldn’t be.
Not only does this remote form of analyzation make an Organ Procurement Organization’s (OPO’s) ability to save lives easier, but it is safer, as well.
Are you skeptical about how telepathology can benefit your OPO? Let’s put your mind at ease.
Save More Lives
Telepathology saves more lives. How? Because remote pathologists are available year-around and at all hours.
Rather than taking multiple days or even weeks, analyses are provided in real-time. As a result, doctors and staff are told quickly whether an organ is a viable option or not.
For the 114,000 people on the US’s national waiting list, this efficient mode of pathology means more lives are saved.
Second Opinions
In some instances, pathologists require second opinions about an organ’s health. For these times, telepathology is the answer.
In one German study, it was found the University Hospital Charit could easily request second opinions for frozen section diagnostic purposes. Using telepathology, a determination was reached in 1 to 10 minutes.
Thanks to modern technology, collaboration efforts have never been more efficient.
Accuracy
A common misconception about telepathology is that there is greater room for error. The opposite is true.
Multiple studies prove digital pathology is just as accurate (and in many cases, more accurate) than traditional glass-slide studies. In fact, a report evaluating diagnoses on over 5,000 cases found telepathology was more beneficial and accurate for frozen section diagnoses.
In fact, diagnoses were accurate in 1997 after digital pathology entered the medical field. Since then, technology has only minimized the possibility of human errors.
Company Growth
Another beneficial aspect of this process for OPOs is its ability to encourage company growth.
Through digital pathology, organizations can provide services to third-world countries. They can utilize online data to teach others. They can even conduct their own research.
In this way, remote pathology offers an opportunity many entrepreneurs fail to recognize or take advantage of.
Assess High-Risk Organs
Research indicates that current screening methods are beneficial for “high-risk” organs from deceased individuals. By assessing them, companies ensure they are safe to use. Should a company wish to invest, it’s a lucrative option.
In fact, a 2013 report by the American Society of Nephrology found almost 90% of organs labeled “high risk” were functioning healthily after 2.5 years after transplants.
Digital pathology analyzes data quickly enough to salvage organs and provide them to patients who badly need them, saving more lives and shortening the waiting list.
Safer and Cheaper
When it comes to high caseloads, telepathology is typically less expensive than other means of diagnosis. In addition, it’s safer.
Doctors can immediately seek second opinions. Current technology also decreases the chances of misdiagnoses because Telepathologists view “big picture” elements, look at multiple slides at once and utilize software for further assistance.
Best of all, patients who are depending on obtaining a transplant to survive have a greater chance of finding an organ.
This option isn’t just beneficial; it’s safer for all involved.
Save Lives Through Telepathology
If you’re an Organ Procurement Organization, there is no “maybe”: telepathology is right for you.
However, you may need a bit of help integrating it. To work with a panel of experts and to find the solution that’s right for your business, contact us at our website. Our company will provide yours with end-to-end telehealth solutions that are right for your budget, patients, and needs.
