[Point of view: A lesson from lockdown, histopathology through videoconferencing]

Area of Science:

• Pathology
• Medical Informatics
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Videoconferencing use dramatically increased during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
• The pathology department at Timone University Hospital (Marseille, France) adopted videoconferencing for various applications.
• This technology facilitated academic, diagnostic, and referral activities within the department.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share expert perspectives on the utility of videoconferencing in pathology.
• To provide practical recommendations for conducting remote histopathology meetings.
• To address the novel aspects and challenges of discussing slides via videoconferencing.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative review of videoconferencing implementation in a pathology department.
• Expert opinion and experience sharing.
• Development of best practice guidelines for remote slide discussions.

Main Results:

• Videoconferencing proved a valuable tool for pathology during the lockdown.
• Specific challenges and considerations exist for remote histopathology slide review.
• Recommendations were formulated to optimize the use of videoconferencing in this setting.

Conclusions:

• Videoconferencing offers significant benefits for pathology departments, enhancing collaboration and accessibility.
• Effective implementation requires specific strategies and recommendations for remote histopathology.
• The technology supports academic, diagnostic, and referral functions, improving patient care and knowledge sharing.