Digital Imaging in Pathology Bruce E. Dunn, M.D. Milwaukee VA Medical Center

Digital Imaging in Pathology Definition: Use of electronic images for diagnostic, support or educational purposes in anatomic or clinical pathology Rationale: Images stored electronically can be stored, annotated and retrieved readily in a database or patient record more conveniently than can conventional photographs

Telepathology Definition: Use of digital images (static or dynamic) to provide diagnostic, support or educational services in anatomic or clinical pathology at a distance Rationale: Provide access to a generalist or specialist pathologist (or technologist) not available on-site

Digital Imaging System Images from

Description of previous slide In a typical digital pathology system, a camera is attached to a microscope and static (still) images are taken Images (with or without annotations) can be stored with text in a computerized database or directly in a patient record Cases and images can be retrieved from the database or patient record as needed

VistA Imaging System VistA = Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture computerized patient record VistA Imaging captures digital images (including pathology images), scanned documents, and other non-textual data files and makes them part of the patient’s electronic medical record

VistA Imaging System Image and text data are provided in an integrated manner that facilitates the clinician’s task of correlating the data and making patient care decisions in a timely and accurate way VistA Imaging serves as a tool to aid communication and consultation among physicians – whether in the same department, different services, or at different sites

Conclusions Digital imaging involves storage of images in electronic format Telepathology involves sending digital images for diagnostic or educational purposes Digital images can be stored in the veteran computerized patient record through the VistA Imaging package