dc.contributor
Institut Català de la Salut
dc.contributor
[Matias Guiu X] Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge and Hospital Universitari Arnau de Vilanova IDIBELL, IRBLLEIDA, University of Lleida, CIBERONC, Lleida, Spain. [Temprana Salvador J] Servei d’Anatomia Patològica, Vall d’Hebron Hospital Universitari, Barcelona, Spain. [Garcia Lopez P] Institut Català de La Salut (ICS), Barcelona, Spain. [Kammerer Jacquet DF, Rioux Leclercq N] Cytology and Pathological Anatomy Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France. [Clark D] Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, HMDN, Dept of Histopathology, City Hospital, Hucknall Road, Nottingham, UK
dc.contributor
Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus
dc.contributor.author
Matias-Guiu, Xavier
dc.contributor.author
Garcia Lopez, Pablo
dc.contributor.author
Kammerer-Jacquet, Solène-Florence
dc.contributor.author
rioux leclercq, nathalie
dc.contributor.author
CLARK, DAVID
dc.contributor.author
Temprana Salvador, Jordi
dc.date.accessioned
2025-11-06T09:44:00Z
dc.date.available
2025-11-06T09:44:00Z
dc.date.issued
2025-11-05T13:37:35Z
dc.date.issued
2025-11-05T13:37:35Z
dc.identifier
Matias-Guiu X, Temprana-Salvador J, Garcia Lopez P, Kammerer-Jacquet SF, Rioux-Leclercq N, Clark D, et al. Implementing digital pathology: qualitative and financial insights from eight leading European laboratories. Virchows Arch. 2025 Oct;487:815–826.
dc.identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/11351/14026
dc.identifier
10.1007/s00428-025-04064-y
dc.identifier
001439500700001
dc.identifier.uri
http://hdl.handle.net/11351/14026
dc.description.abstract
Digital pathology; Economic outcomes; Pathologist perception
dc.description.abstract
Patología digital; Resultados económicos; Percepción del patólogo
dc.description.abstract
Patologia digital; Resultats econòmics; Percepció del patòleg
dc.description.abstract
Digital Pathology (DP) revolutionizes the diagnostic workflow. Digitized scanned slides enhance operational efficiency by facilitating remote access, slide storage, reporting and automated AI image analysis, and enabling collaboration and research. However, substantial upfront and maintenance costs remain significant barriers to adoption. This study evaluates DP’s financial and qualitative value, exploring whether the long-term financial benefits justify investments and addressing implementation challenges in large public and private European laboratory settings. A targeted literature review, semi-structured interviews, surveys, and a net present value (NPV) model were employed to assess DP’s impact on clinical practice and laboratory financials. Qualitative findings validate the key benefits of DP, including optimized workflow, enhanced logistics, and improved laboratory organization. Pathologists reported a smooth integration, improved training, teaching, and research capabilities, and increased flexibility through remote work. Collaboration within multidisciplinary teams was strengthened, while case examination efficiency and access to archival slides were notably improved. Quantitative results indicate that DP demonstrates strong financial potential, achieving cost recovery within 6 years. DP investment results in a 7-year NPV of + €0.21 million (m) driven by increased productivity and diagnosis volumes. Although the high upfront costs for scanners, training, and system integration pose a significant barrier to the adoption of DP, larger institutions are better positioned to leverage economies of scale. This study underscores the importance of sustained financial support to cope with the initial investment and regional collaboration in driving widespread adoption of DP. Expanding reimbursement policies for pathology procedures could significantly reduce financial barriers.
dc.description.abstract
This study was funded by AstraZeneca.
dc.format
application/pdf
dc.relation
Virchows Archiv;487
dc.relation
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-025-04064-y
dc.rights
Attribution 4.0 International
dc.rights
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject
Laboratoris de patologia - Aspectes econòmics
dc.subject
Telemedicina - Aspectes econòmics
dc.subject
HEALTH CARE::Health Services Administration::Patient Care Management::Delivery of Health Care::Telemedicine::Telepathology
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DISCIPLINES AND OCCUPATIONS::Health Occupations::Medicine::Pathology::Pathology, Clinical
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HEALTH CARE::Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services::Health Facilities::Laboratories
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Other subheadings::Other subheadings::Other subheadings::/economics
dc.subject
ATENCIÓN DE SALUD::administración de los servicios de salud::gestión de la atención al paciente::prestación sanitaria::telemedicina::telepatología
dc.subject
DISCIPLINAS Y OCUPACIONES::profesiones sanitarias::medicina::anatomía patológica::patología clínica
dc.subject
ATENCIÓN DE SALUD::instalaciones, servicios y personal de asistencia sanitaria::centros sanitarios::laboratorios
dc.subject
Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::Otros calificadores::/economía
dc.title
Implementing digital pathology: qualitative and financial insights from eight leading European laboratories
dc.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.type
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
