Instruments & Equipment

Surprises Expected at Next Month's APIII Conference

Dark Daily wanted to give its readers a sneak preview of the most significant surprises in pathology informatics from the upcoming APIII conference on anatomic pathology informatics and imaging support for translational medicine that will take place in Pittsburgh on September 9-12, 2007.  We asked Michael J. Becich, M.D., Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Course Director of the APIII conference, to share with our readers the biggest surprises expected at the conference.

According to Dr. Becich, there will be four surprises to emerge over the course of the conference. They are:

Surprise #1:  Pathology and radiology are starting to work together to do diagnostic-level imaging support.  Radiology has been converting to digital picture archiving systems (or PACS-picture archiving and communication systems) for some time.  Now, pathology is moving down the same road, with growing numbers of pathology labs converting glass slides to digital files.

Surprise #2:  Emerging standards for pathology imaging are being decided at the meeting.  For laboratorians who want a say in the future of pathology imaging, attendance at this meeting will be important. 

Surprise #3:  Pathology informatics is developing in ways that enable translational medicine and research. Pathology data, in electronic form, supports efforts to identify and develop new drugs, new therapies, and innovative diagnostic technologies for early detection of disease.

Surprise #4:  The role of pathology informatics in patient safety efforts has a new theme.  Pathology informatics now aims to provide the best, most objective data for patient safety efforts in a hospital.

Dark Daily found it interesting that almost all of these trends are in such an early stage that little information exists on the Internet to which we can link our readers!  That is another reason why laboratorians interested in knowing more about these surprises and participating in discussions about them should attend the APIII conference. It will take place at the Marriott City Center Hotel on September 9-12, 2007 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.