Telepathology makes grand entrance into the Network

Bathurst, June 15, 2021 – Vitalité Health Network recently equipped its regional hospitals with a telepathology system, a cutting-edge technology that allows images of pathology specimens collected in the laboratory to be viewed remotely.

Dre Jaime Snowdon pathologiste au CHU Dumont qui regarde une lame provenant de l’Hôpital régional d’Edmundston

Dr. Jaime Snowdon, pathologist at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre, looking at a slide from the Edmundston Regional Hospital

Telepathology allows laboratory specialists to instantly send high-definition images captured under the microscope to the Network’s pathologists, regardless of where the pathologists are located. “As long as they have access to an Internet connection to connect to our secure system, our pathologists can read images, provide a second opinion or simply consult images that come from one of our facilities,” explained Dr. Martin Robichaud, Regional Medical Director of Laboratories. “It is even possible for some centres to allow the remotely viewing of live-stream medical procedures within a surgical suite,” he added.

In practical terms, telepathology allows us to accomplish many things:

  • Distribute the work load equitably between pathologists, thus optimizing the workforce;
  • Optimize the use of resources;
  • Prevent service interruptions;
  • Avoid in-silo practices;
  • Use the extensive knowledge of pathologists;
  • Facilitate research and teaching.

“This new technology is a good example of how the Network is continuing its efforts to optimize its equipment and technologies as indicated in the 2020-2023 Strategic Plan,” concluded Dr. France Desrosiers, President and CEO of the Network.