If you want to speed up your biopsy times and get more healthy organs for your OPO, here’s what to look for in a digital pathology expert.
There are currently around 30,000 organ transplants performed per year. And as the science of medicine progresses, that number is only expected to increase. The record high numbers also show the willingness of the public to participate in life-giving donations.
Along with this growth in transplant operations comes the need for quality staff and specialists. This includes telepathology and the essential importance for a telepathologist with excellent digital pathology skills.
Keep reading to find out what to look for in a telepathology expert, so you can hire the most qualified candidate.
Digital Pathology: Hiring the Best
First, it’s important to note that an excellent telepathologist will help speed up your biopsy result times. And within your OPO, time is of the essence. It’s also essential for your digital pathologist to procure the healthiest organs.
That means your candidate should have some skills you might not have considered. For example, their communication skills should be above average, which you might not typically demand from a pathologist.
Let’s look at this skill more closely.
Communication and Diversity Skills
The ideal telepathologist will have experience in teaching, which demands the ability to communicate complicated terminology effectively. They also should have knowledge and experience in cultural and religious diversity.
This includes teamwork and willingness to receive feedback. Probably one of the most important skills to look for will be bedside manner.
Telepathologists will need to communicate with bereaved family members, and if a pathologist isn’t comfortable with talking to grieving people, or able to understand the complexities around religions or cultural practices, your OPO could be dealing with a potential issue.
Certifications and Education
A digital pathologist should have the basic requirements and degrees for their education, as well as experience in their area of expertise. As forensic pathologists have they ever worked in organ procurement?
Also, as digital pathologists, they will need experience working with various technologies, apps, programs, and a willingness to learn about new ones. If you’re interviewing pathologists who don’t have much knowledge of cell phones, laptops, and computer programs, it could be a problem.
Telepathology is usually done under a very strict time deadline. So you should look for pathologists who work well under pressure and always meet their biopsy result deadlines.
Recommendations and References
As with any search for a job candidate, references are important. You’ll want to have evidence of your candidate’s ability to be in a field this specialized. Has your candidate been published in any research? Are they still increasing their knowledge base by participating in ongoing research?
These are some questions you’ll want to ask your candidate.
Pathology Whiz: Need Help Finding One?
Telepathology, like any area of medical specialty, will have some candidates that stand out from the rest.
These are just a few of the qualifications your OPO should keep in mind while searching for someone to perform digital pathology. If you need more in-depth assistance, head over to our resources and take a look at what we offer.
