Iron Mountain discusses Digital Pathology on demand solution on World Health Day

On April 7, countries around the world celebrate World Health Day - and this year, that means the 75th anniversary of the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO is dedicated to the well- being of all people and guided by science.

At Iron Mountain, we challenge ourselves and inspire others to create innovative business solutions that support our customers and make a positive social impact - solutions like Digital Pathology on Demand (DPOD), which is currently in pilot stage at a healthcare system in the US.

Pathology is the study and diagnosis of disease which relies heavily on microscope slides containing tissue samples. In the US alone, we store more than one billion physical pathology slides and the wax blocks from which slides are made.

DPOD makes slide images easily and quickly accessible by pathologists. It also enables pathologists to share these images with colleagues and other healthcare specialists across wide geographic locations. The benefits include efficient collaboration and quicker response time for pathologists.

For researchers, DPOD enables quick and easy access to data to conduct rapid and comprehensive research in the discovery of new treatment options for debilitating illnesses.

Jonathan Poole, a 25-year veteran of Iron Mountain, and other members of our Innovation team spent time listening to our customers to create a solution that streamlines and enhances how they achieve their pathology goals. Through conversation and interdisciplinary collaboration, they built a solution in which users can search for, view, annotate, and share images and archive them for future use. The digital images are secured on Iron Mountain cloud storage, while the physical slides are preserved in Iron Mountain facilities that meet the updated 2021 CAP (College of American Pathologists) guidelines for temperature-controlled storage of slides and blocks between 64–80°F (18–27°C).

According to Nicole Reineke, Senior Vice President of Innovation, “We are progressively improving how customers manage and generate more value from their physical and digital assets with our unified asset strategy. Our innovation process is an active customer partnership where we learn their challenges, understand their goals, and collaborate to solve their business challenges.” Innovation is at the heart of Iron Mountain, and solutions like Digital Pathology on Demand are making a truly positive impact.

You can learn more about Digital Pathology on Demand here.