Expectations and Experiences Among Clinical Staff Regarding Implementation of Digital Pathology: A Qualitative Study at Two Departments of Pathology.

The aim of this study was to assess and evaluate the individual expectations and experiences regarding the implementation of digital pathology (DIPA) among clinical staff in two of the pathology departments in the Region of Southern Denmark before and during the implementation in their department. Seventeen semi-structured interviews based upon McKinsey 7-S framework were held both prior to and during implementation with both managers and employees at the two pathology departments. The interviewees were pathologists, medical doctors in internship in pathology (interns), biomedical laboratory scientists (BLS), secretaries, and a project lead.

Prior to Implementation of Digital Pathology-Assessment of Expectations among Staff by Means of Normalization Process Theory.

The Region of Southern Denmark is the first in Denmark to implement digital pathology (DIPA), starting at the end of 2020. The DIPA process involves changes in workflow, and the pathologist will have to diagnose based on digital whole slide imaging instead of through the traditional use of the conventional light microscope and glass slides. In addition, in the laboratory, the employees will have to implement one more step to their workflow-scanning of tissue.