Case Study
Summit View Dermatology
Partnering with PathologyWatch enabled Summit View Dermatology to improve patient-centered care with instant access to digital slides.
Instant Access to Digital Slides Improves Patient-Centered Care
At a Glance
Summit View Dermatology is a medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology practice serving a wide range of conditions from skin cancer to eczema in Mesa, Arizona. The practice, which opened in December of 2021, was founded by the guiding principle of “Putting Patients First.” Board-certified dermatologist Michael Lehrer, MD, FAAD, and his team specialize in skin cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. The physician-owned dermatology clinic also treats various skin conditions, including eczema, hair loss, and psoriasis.
“Digital slides make it easy to access and see the specimen while discussing the case with a dermatopathologist or a patient. PathologyWatch helps us to provide our patients with the best care.”
—Michael Lehrer, MD, FAAD
Mesa, AZ
The Challenge
Before opening his practice, Dr. Lehrer previously worked in groups with longer turnaround times than PathologyWatch. If someone in the lab was away on vacation, the delay between biopsies and results could take a week or longer. Also, it could at times be challenging to visit the pathologist in person to discuss a particular case. Plus, relying on glass slides made it impossible to see the histologic sections on each case and establish accurate clinicopathological correlation on a regular basis.
The Solution
To follow his “Putting Patients First” truth, Dr. Lehrer knew he needed to review biopsies along side the dermatopathology results. By partnering with PathologyWatch, Dr. Lehrer has 24/7 access to digital slides, which he reviews on his desktop daily. The doctor also shares the digital slides with patients on his tablet to help describe their diagnoses and treatment plans.
At the same time, Dr. Lehrer has noticed an improvement in turnaround times, with PathologyWatch now returning most cases in one to two days. PathologyWatch can also turn around STAT cases in less than 24 hours in most cases.
The Solution
By working with PathologyWatch, Advanced Dermatology and Skin Cancer Specialists gained access to a network of insurance partnerships. After a smooth transition, they also discovered the simplicity of a digital pathology workflow, with results and slides delivered directly to each patient’s EHR.
THE RESULTS
Patient Communication
Sometimes sharing a diagnosis can be challenging for the doctor and confusing for the patient. With digital slides available 24/7, Dr. Lehrer can pull them up on his tablet anytime to guide his patients through the results and better explain the treatment.
Turnaround Time
Patients no longer have to wait a week or more to receive their diagnosis. Now, results for most cases are sent directly to the EMR in two days or less.
EMR Integration
PathologyWatch integrated an EMR interface with Summit View Dermatology, therefore increasing operational efficiency and streamlining staff workflow.
Correlation with a Dermatopathologist
Ensuring every case receives an accurate diagnosis is paramount to Summit View Dermatology. PathologyWatch enables Dr. Lehrer to review digital slides in real time with a dermatopathologist to ensure patients receive the proper diagnosis.