Aug 30, 2023 | Dermatology Practice, Pathology Business, Press Release
The leader in digital dermatopathology is recognized in the Health Services category of the prestigious list.
SALT LAKE CITY—August 15, 2023—Today, Inc. named PathologyWatch in the top 7 percent of America’s fastest-growing private companies on the annual Inc. 5000 list. This marks the first appearance on the list for the deep-learning AI company, which focuses on diagnostic and prognostic research for skin cancer.
Founded in 2017, PathologyWatch reached number 386 on the list of 5,000 companies for showcasing a remarkable 1500 percent growth from 2019 to 2022. This achievement makes PathologyWatch the list’s top-ranked health services company based in Utah.
“It’s an incredible honor to have PathologyWatch recognized alongside so many notable companies on the Inc. 500 list,” said Dan Lambert, CEO and cofounder of PathologyWatch. “This acknowledgment is a testament to the perseverance and principles of our entire organization, including AI engineers, dermatopathologists, lab technicians, sales and marketing team, clients and everyone in between. Together, we’ve been able to continue our commitment to combine state-of-the-art technology and clinical decision-making to deliver unprecedented patient care.”
The ongoing prevalence of skin cancer in the United States is a driver in the demand for PathologyWatch’s comprehensive digital dermatopathology solutions. There are over 5 million cases of skin cancer detected every year in America, killing more than two people every hour and making it the country’s most common type of cancer.
Lambert, a melanoma survivor, noted, “This Inc 500 recognition reinforces our mission to preserve and extend life for patients while reducing the cost of healthcare.”
“Running a business has only gotten harder since the end of the pandemic,” said Inc. editor-in-chief Scott Omelianuk. “To make the Inc. 5000 — with the fast growth that it requires — is truly an accomplishment. Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that are building our future.”
About PathologyWatch
PathologyWatch is the groundbreaking leader of digital dermatopathology services. Through these services, dermatology clinics, hospitals and laboratories can improve operational efficiency by speeding up workflow and enhancing patient outcomes by utilizing the PathologyWatch expert professional team and laboratory services. This can facilitate best-in-class reads and, in some cases, enable additional revenue to the practice by in-housing pathology. With an intuitive and easy-to-implement digital pathology solution that includes access to top-tier dermatopathologists and a streamlined clinical workflow that interfaces directly into the EMR, PathologyWatch brilliantly combines state-of-the-art technology and clinical decision-making to deliver unprecedented patient care.
May 3, 2023 | Dermatology Practice, Press Release
SALT LAKE CITY—May 1, 2023—PathologyWatch, a full-service digital dermatopathology solution, is recognizing May as Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month with a public awareness campaign of its own.
Many Americans are likely unaware of just how prevalent skin cancer is in the US. In conjunction with Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month, the Skin Cancer Foundation has released some sobering statistics about the disease:
- With over 5 million cases detected each year in the US, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer.
- More than two people die from skin cancer every hour in the US.
- More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the US than all other cancers combined.
- An estimated 7,990 people will die from melanoma in 2023 (5,420 men and 2,570 women).
- An estimated 186,680 cases of melanoma will be diagnosed in the US in 2023.
- One in five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70.
“One other key statistic is that the five-year survival rate for melanoma, when it is detected early, is 99 percent,” said Dan Lambert, CEO of PathologyWatch. “That’s why, during the month of May and beyond, we are encouraging everyone to visit their physician or dermatologist and receive an examination. Our mission at PathologyWatch is to preserve and extend life for patients while reducing the cost of healthcare. Early detection is one way we’re working to achieve that goal.”
PathologyWatch uses cutting-edge technology to connect dermatologists with academic-level dermatopathologists in a workflow utilizing samples shared via digital slides. The full-system digital workflow not only optimizes efficiency but also saves physician time, reduces the burden on office staff, and can help clinics create previously untapped revenue streams.
The Utah-based company will be providing “Show Me Some Skin” T-shirts to dermatologists and dermatopathologists who participate in the upbeat awareness campaign. Dermatologists and dermpaths can receive their free T-shirt by simply registering to join the campaign.
“We feel this is a fun way for dermatologists to help get the word out this month about a serious health issue,” Lambert said. “The most important thing in the fight against skin cancer is for people to take the initiative to get tested. May offers the perfect opportunity to commit to that first step.”
About PathologyWatch
PathologyWatch is the groundbreaking leader of digital dermatopathology services. Through these services, dermatology clinics, hospitals and laboratories can improve operational efficiency by speeding up workflow and enhancing patient outcomes by utilizing the PathologyWatch expert professional team and laboratory services. This can facilitate best-in-class reads and, in some cases, enable additional revenue to the practice by in-housing pathology. With an intuitive and easy-to-implement digital pathology solution that includes access to top-tier dermatopathologists and a streamlined clinical workflow that interfaces directly into the EMR, PathologyWatch brilliantly combines state-of-the-art technology and clinical decision-making to deliver unprecedented patient care.
Apr 25, 2023 | Meet The Team, Pathology Business
PathologyWatch COO Scott Mattivi was honored this month with the Meritorious Achievement Award from Pittsburg State University. The award is the highest honor based on career achievement bestowed by the university’s alumni association.
Mattivi graduated from the university, located in Pittsburg, Kansas, with a bachelor of science degree in biology in 1985 before earning a degree in medical technology from the University of Kansas in 1987.
“No matter where your career path eventually takes you, I think most people retain a soft spot for their alma mater, and that’s certainly the case for me,” says Mattivi. “To be recognized by Pittsburg State is truly an honor. My lifelong interest in science and healthcare was fostered there, and my education and association with Pittsburg State have definitely served me well in my career.”
In May of 2022, Mattivi joined PathologyWatch, which specializes in working with dermatology practices to manage their pathology workflows using a digital model. Mattivi brings strategic leadership and operational oversight to PathologyWatch’s three laboratories, which are located in Salt Lake City, UT, Phoenix, AZ, and Port Charlotte, FL.
Before arriving at PathologyWatch, Mattivi was president of Eurofins-Viracor BioPharma Services, where he worked for more than 13 years. Previous to that, he served as a laboratory manager at Quest Diagnostics for 22 years. Mattivi has earned his Six Sigma Green Belt Certification to ensure the highest quality of processes and services and serves on five different boards in the healthcare industry.
Along the way, Mattivi started programs with clinical lab students at the University of Kansas and Wichita State University to perform molecular science rotations at Viracor. He has been an advocate in sharing the virtues of seeking a career in clinical laboratory sciences with students at multiple regional educational institutions.
In addition to his Pittsburg State award, Mattivi will be honored later this year by the alumni association at the University of Kansas, where he will be recognized on October 6–7 as a distinguished health professions alumnus.
Apr 24, 2023 | Dermatology Practice, Digital Dermatopathology, Pathology Business
By April Larson, MD
Thirteen is shaping up to be a very fortunate number for digital pathologists in 2023. Thanks largely to the efforts of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), the American Medical Association CPT Editorial Board developed 13 new Category III digital pathology digitization procedure codes. The 13 new add-on CPT codes, which have been introduced to record the use of digital pathology, went into effect on January 1.
Prior to 2023, lab reports in the US used the same CPT (current procedural terminology) codes in reporting any diagnostic read—with no distinction made as to whether the diagnosis utilized digital pathology or a glass slide under a microscope. Thus, both procedures earned the same reimbursement rates.
The new CPT codes will help track the additional work and investment of digital pathology into practice and help establish a new standard of care by demonstrating its wider acceptance and usage by the medical community, which in turn is a big step in receiving reimbursement for those services. This will continue to push the medical industry toward the adoption of digital pathology, increasing the availability of remote pathology work for pathologists.
Let’s look at the difference between Category I and the new Category III CPT codes and how they could lead to reimbursement rates for those practices utilizing digital pathology.
The Difference Between CPT Codes
The 13 new Category III codes are designed to be temporary in nature. They’re intended for emerging technology, services, and procedures and allow for the data collection directly associated with carrying them out. The goal is to show that these procedures are becoming more commonly adopted so that pathologists can then work with the AMA to shift these codes to Category I status.
I believe the use of these new CPT codes is a helpful measure that the government can use to determine whether new technology—in this case, digital pathology and the use of AI prognostics— is actually advancing the standard of care.
How do Category III codes differ from Category I codes? According to CAP, the new Category III codes may not meet one or more of the following Category I requirements:
- All devices and drugs necessary for the performance of the procedure or service have received FDA clearance or approval when such is required for the performance of the procedure or service.
- The procedure or service is performed by many physicians or other qualified health care professionals across the United States.
- The procedure or service is performed with a frequency consistent with the intended clinical use (e.g., a service for a common condition should have high volume, whereas a service commonly performed for a rare condition may have low volume).
- The procedure or service is consistent with current medical practice.
- The clinical efficacy of the procedure or service is documented in literature that meets the requirements set forth in the CPT code change application.
Category III codes should be reported only for primary diagnostic use; they should not be reported if the digitization performed is solely for archival or educational purposes, developing a database for training or validation of AI algorithms, or for conference presentations.
The 13 new codes are attached to different services and procedures, but the one thing they all have in common is involving the digitization of glass slides.
The use of these codes is exciting both for dermatologists and dermatopathologists. What we’ve seen at PathologyWatch is that dermatopathologists can benefit from remote digital workflows, and dermatologists have quicker access to both digital slides and reports.
Reclassification to Category I codes, which is the goal, requires meeting both general and specific criteria as determined by the AMA.
Potential Game-Changer for Pathologists
While temporary in nature, the 13 new codes have the potential to be revolutionary for digital pathologists for a variety of reasons. Of primary merit is that the codes are widely expected to achieve Category I status in the near future, opening the door to new financial reimbursements.
Clearly, there are significant upfront expenses associated with digital pathology. The initial technology investment, for example, can seem formidable, with scanners running anywhere from $250,000 to $1 million.
While it is important to note that there are presently no reimbursements directly tied to the new CPT III codes, the change is laying the groundwork by bringing a different dynamic into play.
The utilization of CPT codes helps establish the frequency of usage within the medical community. In order to determine reimbursement, this is often determined by committees of experts who help document the financial investment required to use a new technology.
Much like radiology, the wide adoption of digital pathology will help improve the quality of patient care by promoting sharing of information and images with consulting providers, which improves communication and coordination of care. It also promotes more frequent peer-to-peer and expert consultation with difficult cases and patient education and understanding of their disease.
Reimbursement also provides a financial incentive for clinics and labs to invest further in digital pathology. CAP proposals are being considered for development in the next few years through the AMA CPT process. In the meantime, it is important for dermatologists and dermatopathologists to use the new Category III codes to properly track their digital pathology services.
View a chart with the new CPT codes and detailed explanations of what they entail at cap.org. Then, contact us to learn more about how these new codes, and the adoption of digital pathology, could greatly improve your level of patient care and your practice in general.
— April Larson, MD, is chief medical officer and a cofounder at PathologyWatch.
Apr 20, 2023 | Digital Pathology, Pathology Business
There is no time like the present to be part of the digital pathology field.
According to a 2022 report published by Facts and Factors Research, the global digital pathology market is expected to grow at a 13.8 percent CAGR increase in the next five years. In a recent Forbes article, Dan Lambert, CEO of PathologyWatch, spotlights several different market factors that are synergistically signaling exciting growth opportunities ahead.
Increased Demand for Remote Work
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, many companies saw increased demand for the ability to work remotely. With a national emergency declared in the United States, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) waived some requirements for remote pathology sites. The ensuing three years have shown the benefits of digital pathology, especially as the demand for remote work remains high.
Lambert also sees digital pathology as a way to connect people in underserved areas with the latest technological advances in healthcare, which otherwise would not be accessible to them. “I predict that remote digital pathology will eventually help leapfrog the latest technology forward by connecting individual offices with dermpath experts and algorithms throughout the world,” Lambert writes.
New CPT Codes
The College of American Pathologists (CAP) worked with the AMA CPT Editorial Board in 2022 to develop a series of 13 new Category III digital pathology digitization procedure codes, which went into effect on January 1, 2023. Before the change, US labs used the same codes to report a diagnostic read, whether they were made under a microscope or using digital pathology.
The new codes will be used to track the extent to which digital pathology is being utilized, with the hope that it will soon result in additional reimbursement amounts, allowing those using the new technology to recoup some of their costs.
“I see this change providing a clear financial incentive for labs to invest in digital pathology,” Lambert says.
Clinical Correlation
Digital pathology provides a more efficient means of communication between dermatologists and dermatopathologists. Where the old model functioned with biopsy samples placed on glass slides sent off to a lab, digital pathology streamlines the process by scanning the samples into digitized slides. Dermpaths now read the case digitally and can consult in real time with the originating dermatologist.
“Quicker and more efficient diagnosis and communication can position the patient as the real beneficiary of digital pathology advancement,” says Lambert. ”In time, I predict that digital pathology and remote reads by experts will be the industry standard.”
Single-Solution Systems
Until recently, most parts of the digital pathology process were handled separately. In the past, one company might have specialized in building viewers, while one developed diagnostic algorithms, and another specialized in the EMR systems that tracked each patient’s case. But now, vendors like PathologyWatch, with its Dermpath Optimization Tool, have developed systems that cohesively connect each step in the process.
“The fact that a few different vendors have developed start-to-finish systems is a good thing for digital pathology,” Lambert says. “[It] means the industry will continue shifting to support digital solutions.”
To read the full Forbes article, click here.