Dive Brief:
- Digital pathology for primary diagnoses is still in its infancy in the U.S., but many technology vendors are vying for a foothold in the sector, according to a report out Wednesday from KLAS Research.
- Among 55 provider organizations surveyed, 33 have live digital pathology programs, while the rest are currently implementing or making plans for the future, the report found.
- Some vendors gaining traction include Leica Biosystems and Phillips, according to the report.
Dive Insight:
Digital pathology allows slides and data to be captured and interpreted digitally in high-resolution. Normally, glass slides are physically viewed under a microscope by a pathologist. The digital pivot is already a growing trend in Europe.
But that trend is picking up steam in the U.S. and some pioneer hospitals, health systems and other companies are considering implementing the technology.
Thirteen surveyed organizations reported not using digital pathology, but said they would adopt the technologies within two years, signaling a “quickening trend toward broader market adoption,” according to the report.
KLAS surveyed 55 provider organizations including hospitals, health systems, academic health centers and reference labs from March to June of 2022 in partnership with the Digital Pathology Association for its report.
Among the 33 organizations with live digital pathology, 21 are using the technology for primary diagnostic purposes, the report found.
But barriers remain to adoption. Over 60% of respondents cited costs as digital pathology’s top challenge, followed by integration difficulties, organizational buy-in, pathology resistance, lack of resources and transitioning workflows, the report found.
Currently, Leica Biosystems is the most popular vendor for image management systems. It leads in considerations and selections among providers, and is most frequently used for research and teaching, the report said.
Phillips came in second and is used for diagnosis by nearly all of its interviewed customers.
Ispirata, Proscia and Sectra have solid marketshare among early U.S. adopters, while Sectra has seen most recent growth for its clinical technology.
Among vendors selling scanners, Leica Biosystems and Philipps also lead on considerations and selections.
For artificial intelligence solutions, Visiopharm and Paige were most often considered and selected.