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I think digital health is impacting pathologists more than some other specialties because pathology involves pattern recognition, as do dermatology and radiology. These specialties are starting to see lots of computer vision applications with artificial intelligence, machine learning, deep learning, automated diagnosis. The pattern-recognition specialties are focused on clinical decision support and must address all the issues that go with it, which is even more reason why pathologists should have this education early on.

In addition to enrolling in a class or taking a CME course, how can physicians educate themselves about digital health technologies?
It’s the same model that doctors use to try to understand any new and evolving technology. They go to meetings. They talk to their colleagues. They experiment with different technologies to see the clinical response. Fortunately, in most major cities there are a lot of accelerators and incubators that are holding conferences and seminars. But if you want to learn the latest advances in digital health, you don’t go to your specialty society meeting every year in Florida. You go to the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Because these technologies do not originate in medicine. They originate in media, telecom, aerospace, nanocomputer science, et cetera. Unless you get yourself to these places and talk to these people, you’re not going to understand the future of digital health. —Jan Bowers

Xifin releases enhanced lab information system

Xifin has introduced its Xifin LIS 6 laboratory information system, a software-as-a-service–based solution that supports high-complexity, high-volume laboratories.

“The platform increases laboratory testing capacity, shortens turnaround time, and creates new revenue stream opportunities,” according to a press release from the company. This latest iteration, which expands on the functionality in Xifin LIS 5, allows labs to review results in batches and sort by result type. It also provides universal plate-mapping management for molecular testing.

Xifin LIS 6 offers functionality incorporated through strategic partnerships with Proscia, Fabric Genomics, Glidian, and Medical Database. The LIS is integrated with Proscia’s research-use-only Concentriq artificial intelligence-powered digital pathology platform, allowing laboratories to automatically sort and prioritize cases. It is also integrated with Fabric Genomics’ AI-driven platform for analyzing complex genomic data and generating physician-ready clinical reports and Glidian’s automated prior-authorization solution. LIS 6 provides test utilization decision support through Medical Database’s LDS laboratory decision system.
Xifin, 858-793-5700

Mayo and Google partner on digital health innovation

Mayo Clinic and Google have announced a 10-year strategic partnership that will combine Google’s cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities with Mayo’s clinical expertise to further the health system’s digital health care innovation strategy.

“With the help of Google, Mayo Clinic will transform the way it advances virtual care with AI-enabled digital diagnostics,” according to a press release from the health system. “Mayo also will leverage Google technology to boost its ability to conduct medical research. Through this partnership, Mayo Clinic will be able to develop and deploy new machine-learning models designed to improve treatment precision and clinical outcomes of diseases.”

As part of the arrangement, Mayo will securely store data in Google Cloud but will control access to the information and its application. Mayo will use the data to create health care insights and solutions in conjunction with its innovation partners, including Google.

Google will open an office near Mayo Clinic’s headquarters in Rochester, Minn., allowing its engineers to work side by side with experts from the health system.

CompuGroup Medical debuts latest version of LIS

CompuGroup Medical has released version 19.9 of its CGM LabDaq laboratory information system.

This latest version offers a more accurate turnaround time monitor and an expedited process for receiving samples. The streamlined sample workflow can automatically include the date a sample was received in the lab. LabDaq users can also customize the information displayed when viewing patient histories, such as showing the names of referring physicians.

The capabilities added to version 19.9 are based on feedback from LabDaq users nationwide.
CompuGroup Medical, 800-359-0911

Quest Diagnostics and Hc1 announce collaboration

Quest Diagnostics and the bioinformatics company Hc1 have unveiled Quest Lab Stewardship, a service that uses machine learning to harmonize laboratory testing across health care systems in an effort to improve lab test utilization.

Quest Lab Stewardship “integrates in real-time with enterprise systems and leverages Hc1’s machine-learning capabilities to ingest, organize, and normalize lab data, alleviating the time and effort of manual data gathering and analysis,” according to a press announcement from Quest. “It also provides a framework for lab directors and hospital administrators to consult with medical staff to identify areas of concern and implement compendium updates and order prompting based on selected clinical guidelines.”
Hc1, 317-219-4646

Dr. Aller teaches informatics in the Department of Pathology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He can be reached at raller@usc.edu. Hal Weiner is president of Weiner Consulting Services LLC, Eugene, Ore. He can be reached at hal@weinerconsulting.com.