Automation and Asset Tracking in Surgical

Pathology: Barcoding, Tracking, Chain of

Custody in a Small System
Edward P. Fody, MD, Chief of Pathology, Holland Hospital
Holland, Michigan
Foundation.cap.org 1
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Advanced Materials Processing
(AMP) throughout the pathology lab

• Accessioning
• Gross Examination
• Histology
• Microscopic Examination

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Accessioning

• Specimen labels and cassettes are printed

with barcodes

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Specimen label on container

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Accessioning

• Specimen labels and cassettes are printed

with barcodes
• Label is placed on specimen container(s)
and requisition

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Accessioning

• Specimen labels and cassettes are printed

with barcodes
• Label is placed on specimen container(s)
and requisition
• Cassettes go with container in their own
bin compartment

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Specimen bins, individual
compartments for each case

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Gross examination

• Bar code on container is scanned and

case opens up in Powerpath

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Gross examination

• Bar code on container is scanned and

case opens up in Powerpath
• Using Voicebrook dictation system, case is
dictated and sections are submitted within
barcoded cassettes

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Gross examination

• Bar code on container is scanned and case

opens up in Powerpath
• Using Voicebrook dictation system, case is
dictated and sections are submitted within
barcoded cassettes
• If additional orders are produced (e.g. special
stains, frozen sections), the barcode will now
have this information attached
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Histology

• Embedding
– Computer at embedding station for
embedder to easily mark each case as
completed

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Histology

• Embedding
• Microtomy
– Cassette is scanned at the bench and slide
labels automatically print
• Each station has its own computer, barcode
scanner and label printer
• AMP system automatically marks each
cassette as “completed” and each slide as “in
process”
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Histology

• Embedding
• Microtomy
• Slide check out
– Each slide is scanned at our check out
station and the AMP system marks it as
“completed” in Powerpath

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Microscopic examination

• The pathologist scans a slide and the correct

case opens up in Powerpath
• Case is dictated using Voicebrook dictation
system
• Case is either signed out or additional tests can
be ordered
– If additional tests are ordered, a new order
appears in histology worklist and the histotech
can rescan the block; all new labels will now print

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Pathologist orders additional stains

• Ordering Special
Stains/Immunohistochemical stains
– Ventana stainer is interfaced with Powerpath
– Case is highlighted in Ventana and labels
are printed
– Histotech sees order in Powerpath worklist,
scans block for Powerpath labels (which are
placed over Ventana label after staining)

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Advantages to barcoding and AMP

• Barcoded specimen containers ensure correct case

is being dictated
• No need to handwrite slides/cassettes, eliminates
human error of mislabeling and smudging
• Each slide label individually prints and each case is
handled separately, thus no mislabeling amongst
cases
• Cassettes and slides can be followed through
histology with AMP; simply look into a case to see
what step they are at and where to find a case if
needed

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Internet Module

• Clinicians and their staff can easily view

patients’ results via our internet module
– Website is customized:
• http://pathology.hollandhospital.org

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Internet Module

• Clinicians and/or their staff can easily view

patients’ results via our internet module
• With a protected user ID and password,
this site can be accessed anywhere
internet access is available.

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Internet Module Summary

• The internet module allows a physician to

quickly and easily access patients’
pathology results from any computer and
to view the photographs in color and
enlarged

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Additional features of AMP since we
went live with our system

• Grossing station
• Embedding station
• Diagnostician station
• Specimen Discard Station
• Slide/Block Storage Station

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Grossing Station

• Scan cassettes to verify info matches with

container
• Order/print additional cassettes; remove
unused extras
• Add number of pieces and special
embedding instructions to a cassette

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Embedding Station

• Track cassettes arriving at embedding

• Verify number of pieces in cassettes
• View embedding instructions

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Diagnostician Station

• Scan a slide to receive all slides for case

• Auto load case in Powerpath

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Specimen Discard Station

• Scan a container to check if specimen can

be discarded

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Storage

• File blocks and slides

• Check for availability from file storage
• Check out/Check in materials

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Barcodes and Patient Safety

• Right Patient
• Right Test
• Right Time
What’s Next For Barcoding?

• Wristbands
• Lab Tests
• Blood Bank
• Pharmacy
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Advanced Materials Processing
(AMP) at Holland Hospital

Edward P. Fody, M.D.

Chief of Pathology
Holland Hospital
602 Michigan Ave
Holland, MI 49423
(616) 394-3186
efody@hollandhospital.org

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