Adoption of New Digital Pathology PACS to Improve Cancer Care for Patients in Sweden

Physicians at the Linköping University Hospital are rolling out a new Internet Technology (IT) solution for the Pathology Department, after completing testing of the system.

The Linköping University Hospital (Linköping, Sweden) serves the Östergötland Swedish healthcare Region and has one the first digital pathology departments in the country. The new system will enable digital review of pathology exams by all 20 pathologists working in the hospital.

The digital pathology Picture Archive and Communications System (PACS) was provided by Sectra (Linköping, Sweden) and will store digital pathology images. The system will enable pathologists and clinicians to improve cancer care by speeding up access to, and sharing of pathology images needed for review, diagnosis, and treatment.

The new Sectra pathology image storage solution will provide pathologists with central storage of pathology images and new tools to support diagnoses and improve review results. Pathologists will have access to images when they need them, for review with all experts, including radiologists and pathologists, involved in the cancer care treatment cycle.

The digital pathology solution uses the same infrastructure as Sectra’s radiology PACS, which is also installed in the Region Östergötland hospital, in the radiology department. This facilitates integrated diagnostics, such as multidisciplinary hospital rounds, and reduces hospital operating, and maintenance costs.

Anna Bodén, Consultant histopathologist at Linköping University Hospital, said, “I read all of my cases digitally and feel very confident about it. Sectra’s solution is fast, easy to use and very stable, which is necessary because we review large volumes and fast answers are decisive for effective cancer care.”

Related Links:
Sectra
Linköping University Hospital