Realized Benefits of Digital Pathology in a Clinical Setting

Rethinking ROI in Digital Pathology

Digital pathology isn’t just another capital investment; it’s a transformative shift. As Dr. Ardon emphasized, viewing it through the narrow lens of a five- or seven-year ROI fails to capture its full impact. This technology reshapes not only pathology departments but the entire healthcare delivery model. Institutions should consider a more strategic, long-term perspective—one that includes improved clinical outcomes, operational efficiencies, and strategic readiness for future innovations. Dr. Ardon made the point clear, “If you don't start investing now, you will not be able to really reap all those benefits that are coming.”

Dr. Roberts and Dr. Welch highlighted measurable benefits such as reduced staff turnover, enhanced recruitment, and cost savings from centralized workflows and reduced travel. “We built ROI by digitizing IHC slides and providing digital access within hours instead of overnight shipping. That alone created significant savings,” explained Dr. Roberts. “But beyond that, retention and recruitment of pathologists; those are very real, measurable benefits.”

Equally significant, digital pathology improves patient care by enabling faster access to subspecialist expertise, regardless of geographic location. This means more accurate diagnoses, quicker turnaround times, and better-informed treatment decisions, which are especially critical in complex or rare cases where timely expert input can make a significant difference.

Dr. Welch also noted that the flexibility of digital pathology to enable remote work has opened new business opportunities in underserved regions, offering an unexpected but significant advantage. Notably, this flexibility is even prompting some pathologists to reconsider retirement, helping to address the long-standing national shortage of pathology professionals.

How AI Empowers Pathologists

The panelists unanimously agreed that one of the most compelling reasons to invest in digital pathology is its role as a foundation for artificial intelligence (AI). Without a digital infrastructure, healthcare systems cannot harness the rapidly evolving AI tools that are reshaping diagnostics.

When it comes to the goal of AI, it’s not about replacing pathologists, but empowering them. “We have given [pathologists] a tool that's better,” noted Dr. Welch. “We've given them given them a chainsaw instead of an axe.”

AI can assist in screening, triage, pattern recognition, and mutation detection, which all enhance diagnostic consistency and accuracy. Dr. Ardon shared that every pathologist who tested AI tools at her institution recognized the inherent value of AI, with none expressing concern about being replaced by it. Dr. Roberts pointed out that AI is already well integrated in radiology, and similar adoption in pathology is inevitable, especially as costs decrease and tools become more accessible.

Dr. Welch also emphasized the democratizing effect: AI can expand access to high-quality diagnostics. He challenged the audience to consider whether they would want an AI tool to assist in their own cancer diagnosis. The answer, he suggested, is almost always yes. “In the overall picture of cancer care, specifically, why would you not use a tool that enhances the outcome and viability of the diagnosis?” Dr. Welch asserted.

Lessons from the Field: Advice for Implementing Digital Pathology

Understandably, transitioning to digital pathology is a significant undertaking that requires thoughtful planning and strong leadership. It’s not a one-time upgrade; it’s a department-wide transformation that requires ongoing support and adaptability.

Dr. Welch shared how his team transitioned 40 pathologists to digital overnight, with a surprisingly short learning curve and high adoption rate. His advice: be bold and embrace the change. Dr. Roberts added that implementation should be driven by specific institutional needs and challenges, and not a desire to keep up with industry trends. Afterall, digital pathology is a tool, not a goal. It should serve a clear purpose within a broader strategy.

Conclusion

Ultimately, successful adoption of digital pathology depends on aligning technology with institutional priorities, engaging stakeholders early, and maintaining a long-term vision. While the transition may seem daunting, the collective experience of early adopters shows that with the right leadership, planning, and flexibility, the benefits can be both operational and clinical, and ultimately transformative. 

To dive deeper into the insights shared by these industry leaders, we invite you to listen to the full roundtable session from the Executive War College.