Feb 3, 2009 | Digital Pathology, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Off the radar screen of most pathologists and radiologists is an effort by health informaticians to create new diagnostic tools that use the latest computer technology. What distinguishes these current development programs from those of earlier years is that today’s software is capable of incorporating digital images with other types of clinical information.
This research field opens a path to multi-modality diagnosis that is not rooted exclusively in pathology or radiology settings. To the contrary, these are IT wonks working independently. They want to create a software program capable of making an accurate diagnosis. Their software engines are designed to use a wide variety of clinical data.
Among these innovators is Badri Roysam, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Electrical Computer & Systems Engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. Roysam, whose doctorate is in electrical engineering, is actively crossing traditional scientific boundaries. “My lab develops multi-dimensional image analysis algorithms in service of applications in biology and medicine,” says Roysam. “We collaborate with a long and growing list of colleagues in diverse disciplines. Our work is supported by federal agencies (e.g., NSF, NIH, U.S. Army), private foundations (e.g., Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative) and companies (e.g., Siemens, MBF Biosciences, Pfizer) for which we are thankful.
“The world of biology is on the move,” continues Roysam. “Biological investigations are shifting:
1) from qualitative and observational towards quantitative;
2) from reductionist approaches towards the study of integrated systems consisting of multiple interacting components;
3) from sequential experimentation towards high-throughput and high-content studies; and,
4) from static observations of fixed tissue towards dynamic observations of living tissue.”
Roysam points out that the field of clinical diagnostics will be transformed by a wide range of new technologies that threaten to overload pathologists, radiologists, and the attending physician with cascades of data. Microarrays now produce tens of thousands of data points for just one patient’s assay. Full gene analysis by DNA sequencing is available and those tests produce millions of data bits-and that’s before the expected arrival of the $1,000 whole human genome sequence as an affordable clinical service!
You can meet and hear Roysam at the upcoming Molecular Summit on the Integration of In Vivo and In Vitro Diagnostics in Philadelphia on February 10-11, 2009. Location is the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Another innovator in diagnostic informatics is Anant Madabhushi, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Director, Laboratory for Computational Image & Bioinfomatics (LCIB), The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, Piscataway, New Jersey. Madabhushi’s presentation is titled: “Diagnosing Prostate Cancer and Breast Cancer with Multiple Modalities, Including Image, Spectral Analysis, Histopathology, and Gene Analysis.”
For pathologists and radiologists interested in how these modalities are being pulled together to aid diagnosis, attending Molecular Summit 2009 is a fast-track way to learn the latest and craft a winning strategy for your own laboratory or radiology practice.
Along with Roysam and Madabhushi are 25 other pathologists, radiologists and informaticians who are leading the charge to integrated molecular imaging and molecular diagnostics. Attendees will see, hear, and learn from the sharpest minds in this rapidly-evolving field.
Act now and register so you can be with us at this remarkable event. You can register for Molecular Summit by visiting this site:
The full agenda and speaker line-up for Molecular Summit 2009 on February 10-11 can be viewed here (or paste this URL into your browser: http://www.molecular-summit.com/program.htm )
Visit http://www.molecular-summit.com
Download Full Program Brochure (pdf)
Four Easy Ways to Register:
1. Register ONLINE
2. Call 800-560-6363. Our friendly staff can register you quickly and easily, as well as answer any questions you may have.
3. Fax this complete registration form to 512-264-0969
4. Mail the one page register form with payment to:
THE DARK REPORT
21806 Briarcliff Dr.
Spicewood, TX 78669
Feb 2, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
As part of its plan to stake out a place in the international market for healthcare quality standards, Joint Commission International (JCI), the international arm of The Joint Commission (JC), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), launched a new global program to improve patient care and safety worldwide.
JCI’s first demonstration project involves financially strapped, low-performing hospitals in Mexico, China and Palestine, according to JCI Chief Medical Officer David Jaimovich. In an interview with Modern Healthcare, he suggests that the demonstration project allows JCI to measure the program’s capabilities under the worst conditions.
The program, “Essentials of Health Care Quality and Patient Safety”, focuses on five high-risk areas known to have the greatest impact on quality and safety. It provides a way to evaluate progress and defines the levels of effort for each criterion. The five areas include:
1) leadership process
2) accountability,
3) competent and capable workforce,
4) safe environment for staff and patients, and,
5) clinical care of patients.
In an interview with Modern Healthcare, Asian healthcare expert Tsung-Mei Cheng, editor of Princeton’s International Forum, says China is committed to updating and upgrading its hospitals, so international benchmarking should be “enormously helpful.”
In Mexico, President Felipe Calderón emphasizes improvements to healthcare as way to maintain the healthy workforce required to sustain the strong economy vital to keeping the nation’s skilled workforce at home. Mexico’s status as a trade partner, neighbor and destination for Americans traveling and living abroad makes the United States a stakeholder in ensuring healthcare quality and safety in Mexico.
In fact, the increased migration of Americans, Canadians, and Europeans to Mexico is an important factor in Mexico’s efforts to upgrade its healthcare system to U.S. standards. Physicians in Mexico, many of whom were educated in U.S. medical schools are forming physicians groups and establishing American-style medical testing and diagnostic services. Some of these physicians have a goal and a hope that they can negotiate contracts with Medicare and other U.S insurers to provide services to U.S. citizens living in Mexico.
The push for international healthcare quality standards will continue to be a priority in a global economy. Foreign markets attractive to aging Baby Boomers, however, also provide tremendous opportunities for healthcare service providers. So it is no surprise that the Joint Commission wants to play an increased role in helping establish and maintain health quality and accreditation standards in many countries across the globe.
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Jan 28, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Employers increasingly see wellness programs as effective ways to reduce the money they spend on health benefits. Health insurers are responding to these employer needs by launching wellness programs aimed at better prevention and disease management.
Such wellness programs often have two dimensions. First, most wellness programs encourage beneficiaries to utilize healthcare in a proactive mode. Beneficiaries are encouraged to receive regular medical check ups, along with preventive tests or screenings consistent with “best practice” protocols by age, gender and health status. This creates an opportunity for medical laboratories to develop services that can add value to the wellness programs offered by employers and health insurers. The second dimension involves efforts to improve lifestyles. Smoking cessation support, encouraging more exercise, and helping people lose weight are examples.
Over at Wellpoint, the nation’s largest health insurer, its regional subsidiary plans rolled out a wellness program called “360o Health.” This program bundles health and wellness programs together for employers. It includes Web-based health support and nurse counseling via phone. Online tools remind members when they’re due for routine tests and checkups or provide tips, such as recommendations on how to obtain less expensive medication options.
Wellpoint, which has 34 million members nationwide, also launched an assessment tool to gauge the program’s success. Its Member Health Index measures success of the WellPoint program in 20 clinical areas, including prevention, screening, care management and patient safety.
WellPoint, which tied its employee bonus structure to patient participation, reports it quickly realized a two-for-one return on its investment in the program, including a 10% reduction in hospital stays, according to a report by Modern Healthcare.
A recent survey of 350 employers by PriceWaterhouseCoopers indicated that just 15% of employees currently participate in wellness programs. Employers surveyed were most interested in programs that help employees lose weight, eat healthy, and reduce stress. They say their employees would be more likely to participate if offered incentives like premium reductions or gift cards.
Over at UnitedHealth Group, its OptumHealth subsidiary launched a project that compiles and analyses medical, pharmacy, behavioral health and laboratory data from claims, employer data and other sources. The goal is to use this information to identify the wellness needs of individual members based on health status. The company says its E-Synch Platform allows staff to take a personal approach to wellness, tailoring services to meet individual needs, and health goals.
Clinical lab managers and pathologists should recognize the market shift taking place as more employers and health plans jump on the wellness trend. This is a definite shift in clinical priorities and will require a different type of service support and test menu for laboratories and pathology groups. Patients in wellness programs need appropriate laboratory tests for screening different diseases and for predicting the patient’s likelihood to develop a chronic disease. This is a different emphasis for lab testing than, say, the 1980s, when most patients went to the doctor only after they felt sick.
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Jan 27, 2009 | Digital Pathology, Laboratory News, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Pathology, News From Dark Daily
How much longer will anatomic pathologists spend the majority of their time in a quiet office, viewing glass slides through a microscope? Will radiologists and pathologists soon collaborate on diagnosing the patient and jointly releasing an integrated patient report to the referring physician?
Should you think these scenarios are several years into the future, you may be surprised to learn that first-mover pathology groups and radiology groups are in the earliest stages of fully-digital (non-glass) pathology and collaborative diagnosis/patient reporting. These pathologists and radiologists will tell you that this is an exciting time and they are advancing patient care because of these innovations.
At University of Kansas, an extraordinary collaboration was launched last summer involving Ossama W. Tawfik, M.D., Ph.D., Director of Anatomic and Surgical Pathology and his colleague; Mark L. Redick, M.D., Assistant Professor of Radiology, University of Kansas. Tawfik and Redick began meeting regularly to jointly review selected breast cancer cases. “It was quickly obvious to us both that, by reviewing each other’s primary clinical data together, there were immediate benefits to the referring physician and the patient,” noted Tawfik. “We’ve learned two things from this collaboration. First, there have been few changes in the diagnostic aspect of the cases we review. Second, on the treatment side, our pathology/radiology integration is driving significant changes in how the patient receives treatment and what therapies are recommended.”
Tawfik and Redick are speaking about their in vivo/in vitro collaboration at the upcoming Molecular Summit on the Integration of In Vivo and In Vitro Diagnostics in Philadelphia on February 10-11, 2009. Location is the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
At Molecular Summit 2009, the future of the glass slide versus an all-digital pathology service will be discussed by CEOs from industry-leading firms such as Aperio Technologies, Inc., BioImagene, Inc., and DMetrix, Inc.. One sure sign that pathologists are adopting slide scanning and digital pathology systems is the accelerating rate of sales of digital systems reported by these three companies during the past 24 months.
Pathologists and radiologists wanting to stay at the top of their game and profit from the opportunities unfolding in personalized medicine and vivo/in vitro integration should register to attend Molecular Summit 2009. This year’s top-flight event has a distinguished faculty of 27 international experts and covers the spectrum of advanced molecular diagnostics, imaging, and informatics. Unique case studies provide attendees with everything they need to know to advance their molecular skills and tap new sources of patient referrals and income.
Register today and guarantee your place at this important event for pathology and radiology! The full agenda and speaker line-up for Molecular Summit 2009 on February 10-11 can be viewed here (or paste this URL into your browser: http://www.molecular-summit.com/program.htm )
Visit http://www.molecular-summit.com
Download Full Program Brochure
Four Easy Ways to Register:
1. Register ONLINE
2. Call 800-560-6363. Our friendly staff can register you quickly and easily, as well as answer any questions you may have.
3. Fax this complete registration form to 512-264-0969
4. Mail the one page register form with payment to:
THE DARK REPORT
21806 Briarcliff Dr.
Spicewood, TX 78669
Jan 21, 2009 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Several key laboratory tests have a prominent place on Oprah Winfrey’s “Ultimate Checklist” for a healthy life. Oprah, long a champion of personal accountability for one’s own health, kicked off the New Year with a focus on health improvement through self-help activities. It is another example of how consumers are being educated about the importance of using laboratory tests as guideposts to improve their health.
With a theme of “Best Life Week”, Oprah featured her medical expert Dr. Oz and his advice on how people can get healthy and peel years off their bodies. Laboratory tests play a prominent role in Dr. Oz’s “Ten Step Ultimate Health Checklist. Under step five, “Know Your Numbers”, Oprah urged her listeners to pay attention to five laboratory tests:
- Cholesterol, with LDL less than 100 and HDL greater than 40
- Blood sugar
- Vitamin D
- C-Reactive Protein
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)
Also included in the “Know Your Numbers” step were recommendations to check waist size and monitor both blood pressure and heart rate.
Other recommendations in the “Ultimate Health Checklist” were to get a medical check-up; recruiting a health advocate; securing a copy of personal medical records; and getting diagnostic and preventive medical tests and screenings on time.
Oprah’s promotion of Dr. Oz and his recommendations for better improving personal health makes for good ratings. Lab administrators and pathologists should take that as a sign that consumers are interested in healthcare. Another sign of how important television has become as a source of health information is the selection of CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Sanjay Gupta, M.D. to be Surgeon General in the new administration. Expanding media coverage of health and wellness topics plays to the strength of medical laboratories. Media coverage of health issues creates an opportunity for laboratories piggyback on this interest and market directly to consumers. – P. Kirk
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