Integrated Diagnostics Sessions

Sponsor: GE Healthcare

The theme of AHIC 2012 is "Towards Integrated Diagnostics" and features keynote addresses by three of the top experts in the world in this area. In addition, there will be a special Discussion - Thinking Session to enable significant discussion time on this important topic.

Integrated Diagnostics is defined as the seamless collaboration among the medical diagnostic specialists, notably pathologists and radiologists, with the goal of reducing the time and expense of diagnostic processes and providing clinicians with practical, actionable results. Both now and in the future, integrated diagnostics is highly dependent on digital technologies and science as well as computer algorithms to enhance diagnostic and clinical workflows and reporting to clinicians. The conference will cover the fundamentals of integrated diagnostics: the strategic considerations, the technology and deployment.

Keynote Presentations and Speakers

• Dr. Bruce Friedman, MD, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan Medical School & President, Pathology Education Consortium
• Dr. Ulysses Balis, MD, Associate Professor and Director, Clinical Informatics, Division of Pathology Informatics, University of Michigan Health System
• Dr. Sylvia Asa, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Toronto Medical Laboratories and Pathologist-in-Chief, University Health Network

Overview

The conference will feature three keynote presentations along with significant time for discussion. The three presentations will entail a logical progression of themes. Dr. Bruce Friedman will launch the conference with a discussion of the basic concept of integrated diagnostics, citing the value of this approach and progress to date. Next, Dr. Ulysses Balis will focus on the underlying technology and science with special attention to computerized image analysis with a demonstration of the rapidity of automated tissue diagnosis. He will also provide a brief update of regulatory issues pertaining to the field. Finally, Dr. Sylvia Asa will present a practical, operational case study of how she has implemented a large digital pathology system at University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital. She will describe the application of this tool to accomplish a faster, better, cheaper healthcare solution.

Integrated diagnostics can be defined as the close collaboration, or even merger, of the various diagnostic specialties in order to promote more efficient and effective healthcare delivery. The two largest diagnostic specialties today are anatomic/clinical pathology and radiology. Digital pathology, the focus of these presentations, provides an interesting and unique model for demonstrating the intrinsic value of integrated diagnostics. With whole slide imaging, an entire surgical pathology case becomes portable. It can be transferred to a pathologist for interpretation anywhere within a health system (or the world for that matter). It can be quickly integrated into the electronic medical record for ready access by clinicians. It can also be subjected to computerized image analysis for diagnostic purposes or to measure tumor growth as a measure of therapeutic efficacy. Large image archives can be scanned to uncover histologically similar lesions to explore the most effective treatment modalities for a patient. Needless to say, the execution of an integrated diagnostic strategy for a health system involves the use of sophisticated information technology. Fortunately, the field of radiology has evolved into being nearly 100% digital so that the technological path for digital pathology to evolve is relatively clear at this time.

These presentations will be of benefit to pathologists, clinicians, hospital executives, and scientists working in the health informatics field. Starting with theoretical concepts, it progresses to a practical example of the deployment of the technology. In so doing, it provides a blueprint for health systems for the deployment of a new technology and it will stimulate enthusiasm for wider applications of integrated diagnostics.

Schedule of Sessions on Integrated Diagnostics