University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) has boosted its Cellular Pathology digital operations with the introduction of five PathLite Compact systems from Cirdan. Natasha Pranevich, former Project Lead and Shireen Padayachy, Senior Biomedical Scientist at UHS discuss the project and the impact that has been made within the department.
About UHS
UHS is a major teaching and research centre, providing services to around 1.9 million people living in Southampton and South Hampshire, plus specialist services such as neurosciences, cardiac services and children’s intensive care to more than 3.7 million people in Central Southern England and the Channel Islands. Pathology at UHS carries out over 10 million tests (1.8 million specimens) per annum from specimens received from hospital, general practice and other sources.
Background – Move to digital
Recognised as a global digital centre of excellence and a leader in NHS IT, UHS has overseen the development of a number of pioneering digital projects in recent years. Their key aim has been to support the move from paper-heavy to paper-light working and to enable those working within the trust to share information more easily with each other. It is therefore not surprising that they wanted to ensure that pathology was included in this digital transformation.
Cellular Pathology has lagged a little behind other departments regarding digital advancement, particularly in imaging. Macro images were being captured on standard DSLR cameras, saved to individual hard drives with little consideration for where they were stored, how they might be accessed or how they should be managed.
UHS Requirements – Integration was essential
Speaking about the early stages of the project Natasha Pranevich comments, “From the outset we knew we wanted a macro imaging solution that fitted with our overall digital and imaging strategies, one that would allow us to store images centrally and enable smooth information sharing. We needed an easy to use system that would integrate seamlessly with our Sectra PACS. Good integration capability was essential for us.”
The Process – Searching for the right solution
With integration at the forefront of their minds UHS invited leading digital macro imaging system suppliers to provide product demonstrations. It was apparent soon into the process that all the vendors UHS looked at were comparable in terms of the image quality they needed. However, the level of software sophistication and ability for integration varied greatly among suppliers. “Cirdan’s PathLite Compact system was the only solution that we looked at, which offered the ability to integrate with our PACS and fitted with our overall digital imaging strategy, making it an obvious choice”, according to Natasha Pranevich. Cirdan, along with its UK PathLite Compact distributor, PFM Medical met with the team at UHS to discuss their integration requirements and wider digital plans for the laboratory.
Installation
When the team at UHS were confident that their integration needs would be met, the installation process began. The five systems were set up at each of the department’s five cut-up stations and interfaced to the laboratory information system. Shireen Padayachy explained, “From the outset both Cirdan and PFM Medical understood our needs and what we were trying to achieve in respect of information sharing and integration to the various clinical systems. The support we received to get up and running with our new macro digital imaging systems was first-class.”
Impact of macro digital imaging in the lab
Shireen Padayachy continues, “We are already seeing a positive impact within the department. The systems have really supported teaching and the sharing of expertise. With the ability to now view images and cases on the network, we are able to support trainees and junior members of staff more easily and in less time. The sharing of these images over the network permits images to be viewed between cut up and consultant offices, which is a huge benefit.”
User Friendly and DICOM Compliant
Feedback from UHS users has been that PathLite Compact’s software is very user friendly and that images are easy to annotate. It is possible to save multiple images with each case and store centrally on the network. The images saved are DICOM compliant as this is the international standard to transmit, store, retrieve, print, process, and display medical imaging information. Images can be uploaded automatically to a common location on the trust network.
The Digital Future at UHS
Natasha Pranevich comments “UHS is undergoing a digital transformation within pathology and the introduction and use of the PathLite Compact systems from Cirdan have helped increase staff acceptance of working in what is now a more digital lab environment. Staff are definitely seeing the benefits in using this technology. The implementation of PathLite Compact macro digital imaging systems has been a very successful project for UHS and I would have no hesitation in recommending Cirdan as a supplier.”
“We are delighted with the positive impact the new systems have made already within the department. The support we have received from both Cirdan and PFM Medical has been excellent, and I look forward to our continued partnership” adds Shireen Padayachy.
Want to learn more? Request a demo with a product specialist at: info@cirdan.com