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Our goal with these enhancements is to help accelerate the use of the eCCs, resulting in greater standardization in pathologist reporting and the creation of rich, minable, discrete diagnostic data. The searchable, discrete data of the synoptic module is valuable not only for cancer registry reporting but also for collecting and reporting required metrics for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System. To meet these reporting needs, Sunquest PowerPath offers a robust compound query tool, which allows customers to build complex searches based on patient, case, and checklist data. The value proposition for adoption of eCCs is significant and continues to grow.

One of the key goals of the cancer protocols is improved communication of all pertinent pathologic information to the clinician for proper staging and treatment. As a pathologists’ assistant, I believe there is an opportunity going forward to expand the focus on the synoptic format to ensure complete and required information is conveyed to the pathologists, as portions of the eCC data are derived from the gross description. The American Association of Pathologists’ Assistants recently introduced macroscopic examination guidelines for cancer resections to provide guidance to lab personnel performing gross examination and dissection. They are based on the CAP cancer protocols. Traditionally, gross information has been a lengthy narrative that varies in format and structure across pathologists’ assistants, making it challenging to parse specific data from dense paragraphs.

The Sunquest PowerPath Synoptics tool allows for custom templates to be built from scratch, and our clients use this functionality to create gross templates for cancer resections (similar to the CAP protocols with required data elements) to drive standardization and efficient extraction of data for staging by the pathologist. When the eCCs and gross synoptic templates are combined, the search and data mining possibilities are substantial. I foresee a full, streamlined synoptic reporting workflow spanning gross and microscopic information.

I look forward to Sunquest’s continued collaboration with the CAP and mTuitive, which provides our electronic cancer checklist solution for our CoPathPlus product, to advance cancer reporting.

Amanda Coble, MS, PA(ASCP)^CM, MHA
Product Manager
Sunquest PowerPath
Sunquest Information Systems
Tucson, Ariz.