Apollo PACS, Inc. Selected by Henry Ford Health System for Its Digital Pathology Solution

Apollo PACS continues to make inroads with a number of new customers using their PathPACS® product for digital image management with their existing LIS.  Their latest addition is Henry Ford Health System, a department known for its LEAN processing initiatives led by their chair, Dr. Richard Zarbo and its strength in pathology informatics led by Dr. Mark Tuthill, a thought leader and visionary in pathology informatics.  The below press release describes this synergy and why those of us with interests in digital pathology think that this is an enabling technology that fosters increased patient safety, quality assurance and efficiencies in the delivery of pathology services. 

Apollo PACS, Inc. Selected by Henry Ford Health System for Its Digital Pathology Solution

Apollo PACS, Inc., (Apollo) a recognized and innovative leader in digital pathology solutions, has been selected by Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) in Detroit, MI, as the vendor to implement its digital pathology informatics vision. After conducting extensive research to identify a pathology PACS (Picture Archive and Communication System) solution to meet their operational needs, Henry Ford Health System selected Apollo’s PathPACS® as the product upon which they will implement the institution’s anatomic and clinical pathology, and outreach vision.

According to J. Mark Tuthill, MD, Division Head, Pathology Informatics at HFHS, "The Apollo PathPACS® product design is ideally suited to support our vision for expanding the use of digital imaging in the daily practice of surgical pathology and for the expedient delivery of pathology information to organizations outside the institution. Once fully implemented, PathPACS® will streamline the pathology imaging management process, address patient safety requirements, and optimize pathology case workflow throughout HFHS."

A key element critical in the decision to select PathPACS® is the product’s ability to provide comprehensive digital imaging management for HFHS pathology laboratories, integrating seamlessly with their Sunquest Anatomic Pathology Information System (CoPathPlus™) as well as the Sunquest Clinical Laboratory Information System. PathPACS® provides an impressive array of system features and an intuitive image management tool-set which aids users in quickly mastering system functionality to meet their specific needs. In addition to the staff productivity benefit offered by the PathPACS® intuitive user environment, the product easily integrates within the existing HFHS IT infrastructure thus minimizing the time required for bringing on-line the pathology image management capability. This will allow HFHS to apply LEAN principles to image acquisition and management following the tenants of the Henry Ford Production System.

Once PathPACS® is fully operational, the system will provide a seamless environment in which digital pathology will fully support the HFHS mission of providing quality patient care, strengthening the institution’s continued commitment to medical research, and innovative educational initiatives.