Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, as the top tumor hospital in northern China, is famous for its breast pathology in China. To implement the strategic plan of “the interconnection of one hospital and four districts,” the remote pathology consultation platform was formally established through the joint efforts of KFBIO and Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital.

On the morning of March 10, 2022, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital held the launching ceremony of the pathology remote consultation platform. Hao Jihui, the deputy secretary of the party committee and the president of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Huang Dingzhi, the vice president of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chen Lu, the vice president of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, Konggang District, and other relevant people attended the launching ceremony.

• Background
• Robust organization
  Breast Pathology Department, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital:

Established in 1985, this Breast Pathology Department is the only clinical department specializing in the diagnosis and research of breast diseases worldwide. This department has the largest number of breast pathology diagnosis cases. It has the most complete information database of breast cancer surgery patients worldwide.

This breast pathology department is a standardized training base for pathologists of the Chinese National Health Commission. Every year, the department provides clinical practice opportunities and education support for students, pathologists, and scholars worldwide.

It has hosted more than 20 international academic conferences and various training courses, such as an international symposium on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. It also has extensive academic exchanges with internationally famous professional medical research institutes in Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and other countries, and has established good partnerships.
The department carries out strict quality control of the whole workflow, covering sampling, fixation, sectioning, staining, and report issuance to ensure the quality, safety, and accuracy of pathology diagnosis. The quality of medical treatment is guaranteed. It aims to provide satisfactory services for patients.

• 
  Problems
• Unequal distribution of medical resources: Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital’s main district and Konggang district have a large gap in pathological resources distribution. There is a large shortage of pathologists in the Konggang district. Due to the large number of consultation cases to be diagnosed, pathologists have an excessive workload, and the efficiency is very low. Patients have to go to other hospitals for help.
• Demand for international conferences: In the pandemic era, international conferences are not easy to hold. Scholars and pathologists worldwide find it difficult to gather together and have exchanges. Therefore, lots of academic conferences and webinars are arranged online.
• Training courses and assessment of pathologists are heavily needed.
• Quality control matters for the pathology diagnosis. Redundant management may block the normal operation of hospitals.

• Method

The pathology remote consultation platform aims to meet the needs of consultation of difficult cases and rapid frozen section consultation. It effectively alleviates the shortage of pathologists in Konggang district, and realizes the remote collaboration of pathology diagnosis between Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital main district and Konggang district.

The digital pathology remote consultation platform independently developed by KFBIO integrates the pathologists resources to help diagnose timely and accurately. The platform digitizes all information in an interactive way so that experts and patients can quickly communicate. The consultation cases can be checked anytime and anywhere. It really helps to realize “intelligent consultation, data sharing, digital pathology”.

• 1. Whole workflow quality control

In the sampling part, the platform provides real-time instruction according to the regulated standards. And the professional training for sampling staff is also provided if needed. In the producing slide part, real-time quality control of the specimen is strictly achieved. In the slide diagnosis part, the platform provides in-time diagnosis and the secondary consultation of complex and difficult cases by experts. Connected with the surgery room, the platform makes it possible to diagnose frozen sections efficiently. In the quality control part, the quality of the whole specimen processing workflow is strictly controlled according to the regulated standards. The diagnosis accordance and the pathology lab development data are also recorded for the assessment and improvement.

• 2. Architecture of Pathology Remote Diagnosis Platform

KFBIO Pathology Remote Diagnosis Platform has integrated many platforms into one comprehensive platform to provide more information and resources. Besides the remote diagnosis platform, the following platforms are also included.

The pathology information is timely, provided comprehensively, including the policy, meetings, and activities about pathology. The remote education platform is provided, including staff training, webinars, and real-time instruction. The academic communication platform is provided, including the pathology digital slides bank, case forum, and cloud slides sharing. A medical resources platform is provided, including medical documents, books, and other information. An AI tool platform is also provided, including the cervical cancer screening system, IHC analysis, and an AI-assisted diagnosis data bank. All these platforms are accessible and strongly supported by the Backstage Management System to guarantee their normal operation.

• Results
• ● Realize the balanced distribution of high-quality medical resources in different districts of Tianjin Cancer Hospital
• ● Reduce the clinic costs of different districts of Tianjin Cancer Hospital
• ● Improve diagnosis and treatment efficiency
• ● Realize standardized quality control

• Conclusion

Remote pathology diagnosis helps share high-quality medical resources worldwide. It alleviates the shortage of pathologists in some lower-developed regions and improves the ability of diagnosis and treatment. It plays a positive role in the development of China’s medical industry. This successful launch of the pathology remote consultation platform marks that Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute has opened a new door for remote diagnosis and treatment. The future of digital pathology will be promising! KFBIO will also contribute more to the development of digital pathology and give more detailed solutions to the world.