Digital odyssey: lessons learnt from a reverse transition from a digital to a manual pathology workflow

Area of Science:

• Medical laboratory science
• Digital pathology informatics

Background:

• A fully digital pathology laboratory experienced an unexpected server outage in September 2023.
• This incident necessitated a temporary reversion to a manual workflow.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the insights gained from an unplanned transition from digital to manual pathology workflows.
• To evaluate the impact of workflow changes on laboratory efficiency and personnel satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted among pathologists and technicians affected by the workflow change.
• Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered regarding their experiences with both digital and manual systems.

Main Results:

• Pathologists and technicians unanimously preferred the digital workflow, citing time savings and error reduction.
• The manual workflow resulted in increased dissatisfaction and decreased operational efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The challenges encountered were related to the process of transitioning, not inherent flaws in digital pathology systems.
• The study advocates for the widespread adoption of digital technologies in pathology practices to enhance efficiency and reduce errors.