Digital Pathology Blog

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Coming to an iPhone near you soon.  The Digital Pathology Blog App.  Look for iPad and Android OS versions to follow.  Stay connected and up to date from your mobile device to the blog with Twitter (@tissuepathology) and Pathology 2.0 Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pathology2.0) tabs.

 

 

 

 

Free Webinar from 3DHISTECH - February 22 - Register Now!

"Automated High Throughput Whole Slide Imaging Using Area Sensors, Flash Light Illumination and Solid State Light Engine"
presented by Varga Viktor Sebestyén, PhD from 3DHISTECH Ltd.

Program of the webinar:

1. Camera technologies:
- a.) Line versus Area camera
- b.) CCD versus sCMOS sensors
- c.) Scanning speed
2. Multifocal capability
3. Dark Field Preview. 


Date: 22th of February, 2012

Please choose one of the following sessions: 

Session 1 starting at 9.00 CET(13:30IST, 16:00 SGT, 17:00 JST) session
Session 2 starting at 17:00 CET(11:00 EST, 10:00 CST, 8:00 PST) session

If you choose the first session please follow the instructions described in this mail.
If you prefer the second session please follow the instructions in our next e-mail!

Topic: Automated High Throughput Whole Slide Imaging Using Area Sensors, Flash Light Illumination and Solid State Light Engine
Host: 3DHISTECH Webinar
Date and Time:
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 9:00 am, Europe Time (Amsterdam, GMT+01:00)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 12:00 pm, Russian Time (Moscow, GMT+04:00)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 1:30 pm, India Time (Mumbai, GMT+05:30)
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 4:00 pm, Singapore Time (Singapore, GMT+08:00)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 8:00 pm, Dateline Time (Marshall Islands, GMT-12:00)


This event requires registration. 
-------------------------------------------------------
To register for the online event
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1. Go to https://3dhistech-events.webex.com/3dhistech-events/onstage/g.php?d=701546360&t=a&EA=keithjkaplanmd%40gmail.com&ET=2be271ecefbbc5fd5e49bdbb1e7840da&ETR=441b49bef4a134908fbc6ba03b0a445b&RT=MiMw&p
2. Click "Register".
3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit".

Once the host approves your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event.

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For assistance
-------------------------------------------------------
You can contact 3DHISTECH Webinar at:
mariann.trnik@3dhistech.com

Audio Conference: HIPAA Form 5010 Implementation: Real-World Solutions to Ease the Transition from 4010 to 5010 and Avoid Reimbursement Delays

The first 18 days: Lessons learned about how labs can generate
clean lab-test claims for speedy payment 

 

YOUR PRESENTERS:

Lâle White, Executive Chairman and CEO, XIFIN, Inc. 

Jackie Griffin, Director, Client Services, Training & Project Implementation, Gateway EDI

Matt Warner, Associate Vice President, Operations, XIFIN, Inc.

---

Every clinical lab is about to learn whether the transition to form 5010-required as of January 1, 2012-will be handled flawlessly by payers or not.

Ideally, clean claims should mean that payers send timely remittances to your lab. But things are less than perfect. Certain payers have already admitted that they weren’t 100% ready for form 5010 implementation on January 1. And in the days since, other payers have struggled to process claims in a timely fashion. Even your own lab’s billing and collections department probably already has stories to tell about unexpected payer glitches.

Join THE DARK REPORT and DarkDaily.com on Wednesday, January 18, 2012 and listen as two nationally prominent experts on billing and collections give you up-to-the-minute news and intelligence about the successes and setbacks payers are having with form 5010 implementation.

The timing couldn’t be better, because you’ll have a front-row seat to hear the latest developments in how payers are handling 5010 implementation. You’ll learn which payers are processing 5010 claims in an exemplary fashion. But you’ll also find out which payers have been overwhelmed by the transition-along with tips that can help your lab avoid these issues when it files its own claims with these payers.

First up is Lâle White, CEO at XIFIN, Inc. Last year, XIFIN submitted more than one million 5010 live claims for their lab clients and found a number of problem areas. White will provide an in-depth review of those problems as well as what your lab can do to avoid them. You’ll also learn what’s being done to resolve these problems going forward.

“Don’t underestimate the importance of having in-house expertise to help you identify, investigate, and resolve problems,” says White. “Because if a claim is rejected, you won’t necessarily know why.” Find out what tools you’ll need to ensure that 100% of claims can be reconciled and errors can be easily found-and resolved.

Next you’ll hear from Jackie Griffin, Director, Client Services for Gateway EDI. She’ll talk about Gateway’s experiences with how different payers are handling 5010 claims. As one of the nation’s fastest-growing electronic data interchanges (ED), Griffin’s company serves 90,000 providers and submits claims to more than 3,000 payers.

Griffin will share an insider’s perspective of the good, the bad, and the ugly of how payers are coping with 5010 claims. You’ll understand the essential elements to making your lab’s claims “clean and compliant” at first submission. You’ll also learn specific things to avoid, as well as how to quickly recognize payers with problems in their 5010 implementation program.

As you know, the 5010 form requires new information from providers that wasn’t included on form 4010. What these new requirements are-and how to interpret data that might be returned if there are problems with your submissions-will be critical for getting your lab claims  reimbursed without delays in the process.

Adding confusion about how and when to use the new 5010 form is that some payers aren’t ready to accept it. And those that are may not be equipped to handle the massive number of new forms, which will cause further delays in claims processing and payments. But the reality is that it’s your lab that is ultimately at risk for claims denials or delays. Not knowing the ins and out of the new form and how to use it correctly poses a considerable threat to your bottom line.

Despite the testing delays at CMS, there has been no delay in transitioning to the new form. CMS did announce a grace period on penalty enforcement through March, but some payers are still insisting on the 1/1/12 cutover. So it’s critical that your lab start using-and understanding how to use-form 5010 now.

To make sure you’re on top of the new form and aware of the problems that could seriously affect your revenue stream, you won’t want to miss the latest audio conference from THE DARK REPORT and DarkDaily.com, “HIPAA Form 5010 Implementation: Real-World Solutions to Ease the Transition from 4010 to 5010 and Avoid Reimbursement Delays.” Listen as two experts who have first-hand experience with the new form provide details on the best strategies for being in compliance with its use. You’ll get practical, real-world insights and advice based on the results of comprehensive testing in the last year.

Keep in mind that the initial testing covered the design of the new form, not the actual data. So providers can expect to encounter additional problems when they start using 5010 on January 1st. With almost three weeks of experience submitting live claims on the new form, both speakers will have new insights to share, including specific payer problems and what you can do to overcome them. This is truly up-to-the-minute information that will have a direct impact on how your lab can avoid potential problems that could result in significant reimbursement delays.

Flexibility is key to any successful transition to form 5010. Your lab needs to know in advance which payers are ready for the new forms and which ones aren’t. So if your lab hasn’t done significant testing with its payers, this audio conference is your chance to find out what’s working-and what isn’t-with many of the payers. You’ll learn about some of the biggest problems and how to make sure they’re fixed before you submit additional claims to those payers.

But some payers simply won’t be ready. So bottom line: Be prepared to send native 5010 and 4010 forms and decide which one to send on a payer-by-payer basis. And make sure you can revert to 4010 at a moment’s notice to ensure timely reimbursement.

Whether you work in a hospital, health system, or independent clinical laboratory-even if you use your hospital’s billing and collections department or an outside billing company-this is one session you can’t afford to miss.

Register today to get the latest on the new 5010 form, the changes you’ll need to make, the problems you can expect, and how it could all impact your revenue cycle management after the cutover.  And remember that your entire management team can learn and participate when you register.

THE DARK REPORT AUDIO CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 2012 TIME: 1 p.m. EDT; 12 p.m. CDT; 11 a.m. MDT; 10 a.m. PDT PLACE: Your telephone or speakerphone COST: $195 per dial-in site (unlimited attendance per site) through 1/13/12; $245 thereafter TO REGISTER NOW: Click here or call 1-800-560-6363 toll-free

For one low price-just $195 (through 1/13/12; $245 thereafter) you and your entire team can take part in this fast-paced, insightful audio conference. Best of all, you’ll be able to connect personally with our speakers when we open up the phone lines for live Q&A.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn during this in-depth 90-minute audio conference:

• The best and worst news for labs about the first 18 days of form 5010 implementation.
• Common issues that prevent payers from prompt settlement of lab-test claims submitted on 5010 forms, plus what labs can do to rectify these problems.
• Which payers are struggling the most with 5010 lab-test claims, plus the names of payers doing a great job processing 5010 claims.
• Specific steps your clinical laboratory can and should do to address payer problems with form 5010 that will speed payment of conforming lab test claims.
• What’s working (and what isn’t) in form 5010 implementation.
• Simple steps to optimize your lab’s ability to submit clean claims and get timely/accurate payments.

…and much more!

How to Register Now:

1. Online
2. Call toll free: 800-560-6363.

Your audio conference registration includes:

• A site license to attend the conference (invite as many people as you can fit around your speakerphone at no extra charge)
• A downloadable PowerPoint presentations from our speaker
• A full transcript emailed to you soon after the conference
• The opportunity to connect directly with the speaker during the audience Q&A session

Register Now!     Or for more information, call us toll-free at 800-560-6363

 

Distinguished Presenters:

Lâle White is Executive Chairman and CEO at XIFIN, Inc. She is a nationally recognized expert in the field of medical financial management and regulatory compliance, with more than 25 years of experience in information systems development and medical billing. She lectures extensively on these topics and has consulted for major laboratories and laboratory associations throughout the U.S. Ms. White worked with HCFA and the U.S. Office of the Inspector General to develop the first OIG Model Compliance Program. She was previously Vice President of Finance for Laboratory Corporation of America and its predecessor National Health Laboratories, where she led the software development of several accounts receivable, inventory, cost accounting, and financial management systems for the laboratory industry. Ms. White has a BA in finance and an MBA from Florida International University.

---

Jackie Griffin is Client Services Director for the training and implementation teams at Gateway EDI. The implementation team focuses on the overall direction, implementation control, and completion of specific projects ensuring consistency with company strategic objectives. Ms. Griffin worked on Gateway EDI's own 5010 transition strategy, planning, and rollout. She also led efforts to educate customers and the industry about 5010 planning, issues, and concerns. Ms. Griffin began working at Gateway EDI in 1999 to help with Y2K planning. She has served in several customer-service positions, including supervisor for executive accounts. She is an active member of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange and participates in other industry groups such as the American Medical Association, American Standards Committee, and Medical Group Management Association. Ms. Griffin was a feature speaker for the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange 5010 Forum and the GetReady5010 webinar series, presenting on topics such as HIPAA 5010 Testing for Small Practices and Planning for the "what ifs" of 5010. Prior to joining Gateway EDI, she attended Missouri College and worked in several provider offices gaining an understanding of front- and back-office functions.

---

Matt Warner is Associate Vice President, Operations at XIFIN where he oversees the IT and EDI Services departments. Mr. Warner works with all aspects of electronic data interchange (EDI) with thousands of payers and dozens of direct-trading partners, from enrollment to eligibility and claims payment for each of XIFIN’s customers. As head of the IT department, he supports an SAS-70 audited, high-traffic, Internet-facing, business-critical environment. Previously, Mr. Warner was a Senior Systems Engineer/Infrastructure Engineer at Intuit, and also held positions at MedImpact and Caventa. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University.

 

ACCENT® Continuing Education Credit
The American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) designates this program for a maximum of 1.5 ACCENT® credit hours towards the AACC Clinical Chemist’s Recognition Award. AACC is an approved provider of continuing education for clinical laboratory scientists in the states of California, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

 

Last Chance to Register for PathXL Simulator Webinar

PathXL Simulator: Prebuilt Simulations for Pathology Training

18th January 2012 – two time slots are available: 

Session 1 - 10.15am GMT / 11.15am CET / 05.15am EST / 02.15am PST
Session 2 - 4.15pm GMT / 5.15pm CET /11.15am EST  / 08.15am PST

PathXL Simulator is a comprehensive set of training modules designed for early stage training by residents in Pathology and Biomedical Scientists.

Customers include Thames and Medway Training Schools, Liverpool Training School, South West Deanery Training School and the RCPA (Royal College of Pathologists of Australia) and Astra Zeneca.

Guest Speakers:

Professor Chris Womack, Astra Zeneca

Dr Jim Diamond, PathXL

Click here to register

Why Attend?

• Learn about PathXL Simulator and modules available
• Listen to other users experiences
• Join a Q&A session

Modules available

Breast Cytopathology (PAP)

Breast Cytopathology (Giemsa)

Breast Histopathology

Cervical Histopathology

Neuropathology

Prostate Cancer

Urine Cytopathology

Salivary Gland Tumours

Skin Squamous Malignancy

Skin Melanocytic Lesions

Colon Polyp

Bowel Polyp

 

 

 

Webinar from Visiopharm - December 13, 9 AM EST: Changing anatomic pathology from a descriptive to a quantitative discipline: now or never?

Changing anatomic pathology from a descriptive to a quantitative discipline: now or never?  SPOTS LIMITED!     Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/506449257     By Robert W. Dunstan, DVM, MS, DACVP  Distinguished Investigator  Biogen Idec  Whole slide imaging and sophisticated image analysis software have allowed for quantification of progressively complex morphologic changes. What is the potential of this technology? What are its pitfalls? Is it even reasonable to expect that practitioners of anatomic pathology can change to be more quantitative in their assessments? More importantly, what happens to anatomic pathology if the discipline does not embrace the potential of this emerging technology? This seminar will discuss where we are with image analysis, where we are going and what is required to make image analysis a routine aspect of morphologic assessment.   6:00 AM San Francisco, 9:00 AM New York, 2:00 PM London, 3:00 PM Paris, 3:00 PM Copenhagen, 10:00 PM Tokyo, 12:00 AM Melbourne. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar   System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

 

How Proposed Code-Stack Changes Will Impact Palmetto GBA’s Handling of Molecular Diagnostic Tests and LDTs

Preparing your lab for March 1, 2012 when proposed changes
take effect for code-stacked claims in Medicare’s J1 region

LIVE EVENT December 20th

YOUR PRESENTERS:

Elaine K. Jeter, M.D., Pathologist and Medical Director, Palmetto GBA

Mike Barlow, Vice President, Palmetto GBA

Robert L. Michel (Moderator), is Editor-In-Chief of The Dark Report and DarkDaily.com

Click Here to Read The Presenters Bios

____________________________________________________________________________

Is the era of code stacking about to end? The clock is certainly ticking for molecular diagnostic tests. Effective March 1, 2012, one of Medicare’s larger carriers is proposing new processes that will affect claims for molecular diagnostic tests (MDT) and laboratory-developed tests (LDT).

This milestone development has the potential to affect every laboratory that uses code stacks when submitting claims for MDTs and LDTs. In recent weeks, Palmetto GBA has published two proposed local-coverage determinations (LCD) that would change how code stacks are used for MDTs and LDTs, starting in the J1 region.

Palmetto GBA also released details about a proposed new “Molecular Diagnostics Services Program” or MolDx for short. MolDx will also launch on March 1, 2012, and to comply, labs would need to register every MDT and LDT, then submit clinical and scientific material for each test. This information would be evaluated by a special review panel, after which Palmetto GBA would make a coverage determination for each test.

By special arrangement, this audio conference on Tuesday, December 20, 2011 will feature Palmetto’s Medical Director, Elaine Jeter, M.D. and Vice President Mike Barlow. You and your lab team can get first-hand information about why these proposals were put forth, along with specific details about how Palmetto GBA plans to implement the two proposed LCDs and MolDx.

For pathology groups and clinical labs moving forward with molecular diagnostics testing, this is a “must-attend” event. You’ll get the knowledge you need to ensure that your lab’s MDT and LDT claims comply with the proposed changes. Not only will you hear directly from the Palmetto GBA executives tasked with addressing the issues triggered by the growing number of code-stacked claims, you’ll also get answers to your specific questions when we open up the phone lines to Q&A from the audience.

This high-value, low-cost audio conference will help you and your entire staff develop a strategic plan to respond to the proposed new processes involving molecular diagnostic tests and LDTs. It’s information you can’t get from any other source, so be sure you register today to guarantee your place at this important event!

THE DARK REPORT AUDIO CONFERENCE AT A GLANCE DATE: Tuesday, December 20, 2011 TIME: 1 p.m. EDT; 12 p.m. CDT; 11 a.m. MDT; 10 a.m. PDT PLACE: Your telephone or speakerphone COST: $195 per dial-in site (unlimited attendance per site) through 12/9/11; $245 thereafter TO REGISTER NOW: Click here or call 1-800-560-6363 toll-free

For one low price-just $195 (through 12/9/11; $245 thereafter) you and your entire team can take part in this fast-paced, insightful audio conference. Best of all, you’ll be able to connect personally with our speakers when we open up the phone lines for live Q&A.

Here’s just some of what you’ll learn during this in-depth 90-minute audio conference:

• Why do code stacked claims cause problems for health insurers?
• How do the two proposed local coverage determinations (LCD) address code-stacking issues?
• Can my lab expect to be paid if it submits code-stacked molecular test claims after March 1, 2012?
• What is the purpose of the molecular test registry?
• How will the clinical and scientific material in support of my lab’s tests be evaluated?
• Why do I need a “Z-Code” for each of my lab’s molecular diagnostic tests and LDTs?
• Will there be flexibility in the timelines?

…and much more!

How to Register Now:

1. Online
2. Call toll free: 800-560-6363.

Your audio conference registration includes:

• A site license to attend the conference (invite as many people as you can fit around your speakerphone at no extra charge)
• A downloadable PowerPoint presentations from our speaker
• A full transcript emailed to you soon after the conference
• The opportunity to connect directly with the speaker during the audience Q&A session

Register Now! Or for more information, call us toll-free at 800-560-6363

 

ACCENT® Continuing Education Credit
The American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC) designates this program for a maximum of 1.5 ACCENT® credit hours towards the AACC Clinical Chemist’s Recognition Award. AACC is an approved provider of continuing education for clinical laboratory scientists in the states of California, Florida, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.

 

Webinar: PathXL Simulator

PathXL Simulator: Prebuilt Simulations for Pathology Training

14th December 2011, 4pmGMT /11amEST /8amPST /5pmCET

PathXL Simulator is a comprehensive set of training modules designed for early stage training by residents in Pathology and Biomedical Scientists.

Customers include Thames and Medway Training Schools, Liverpool Training School, South West Deanery Training School and the RCPA (Royal College of Pathologists of Australia) and Astra Zeneca.

Guest Speakers:

Professor Chris Womack, Astra Zeneca

Dr Jim Diamond, PathXL

Click here to register

Why Attend?

• Learn about PathXL Simulator and modules available
• Listen to other users experiences
• Join a Q&A session

Modules available

Breast Cytopathology (PAP)

Breast Cytopathology (Giemsa)

Breast Histopathology

Cervical Histopathology

Neuropathology

Prostate Cancer

Urine Cytopathology

Salivary Gland Tumours

Skin Squamous Malignancy

Skin Melanocytic Lesions

Colon Polyp

Bowel Polyp

Free webinar from 3DHISTECH on December 13

Invitation for TMA webinar

You are kindly invited to attend the following webinar, where you can get a comprehensive insight into Automated, database-linked creation and analysis of digital TMA slides using 3DHISTECH systems presented by Dr. Tibor Krenacs, PhD at the 1^st Department of Pathology & Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University!

Date: 13^th of December, 2011. 

 

 

Please choose one of the following sessions:  Session 1 starting at 09.00 CET(13:30  IST, 16:00  SGT, 17:00 JST)!  Session 2 starting at 17.00. CET (11:00 EST, 10:00 CST, 8:00 PST)!

This event requires registration!

 

To register for the online event:

1.a. If you choose the first session, please click here.

1.b. If you prefer the second session, please click here.

2. Click "Register".

3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit". 

 

Program of the TMA Webinar:

-  Introduction to Tissue Microarray (TMA) technique

-  Database-linked automated creation of TMA

-  Whole slide digitalization of brightfield and multichannel fluorescence TMA

    samples

-  Software supported scoring and analysis of TMA results on digital slides

-  TMA Workflow summary

 

Please join the TMA Webinar of 3DHISTECH Ltd. presented by Dr. Krenács Tibor, Phd.

 

 

 

Webinar from Aperio -- Telepathology: Remote Intraoperative Pathology Consultations

Frozen sections one of the most tangible use cases for digital pathology - from delivery of care to mitigating risk.  This should be a pertinent talk for anyone considering doing telepathology, frozen or other.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Register Now

8:00 am Pacific Time, 11:00 am Eastern Time

(4:00 pm London GMT / 10:00 am Mexico City Standard Time)

Presenter:
Berle Stratton, MD, FCAP, Cytopathologist, Northwest Pathology, PS

In this 60 minute, complimentary webinar, Dr. Stratton will discuss the following topics:

- Improve patient outcomes: quality and safety
- Improve efficiency of patient care delivery
- Increase access to intraoperative pathology  
  consultation
- Reduce cost of patient care
- Understand potential legal barriers 

To register for the 8 am PDT session, click here.

https://aperio.webex.com/aperio/onstage/g.php?t=a&d=769029815

You may also register by visiting the Aperio Events page.

You will receive a confirmation email upon registration with a web link that will lead you to the online event. Simply visit the link at the assigned time. The session is secure and easy to access. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact the Aperio Events Team at events@aperio.com or 760.539.1192. 

Invitation from 3DHISTECH: CaseCenter Webinar, November 15th - Register Now

 3DHISTECH invites you to the CaseCenter Webinar, where you get a comprehensive insight into Digital Pathology visualization and demonstration presented by Mr. Ferenc Szipőcs, the Product Manager of CaseCenter project at the 3DHISTECH Ltd! 

Date: 15th of November, 2011.

Please choose between the following two sessions:

9:00 CET (13:30 IST, 16:00 SGT, 17:00 JST) session!

17:00 CET (11:00 EST, 10:00 CST, 8:00 PST) session!

If you choose the second session please follow the instructions described in this mail! 

Program of the CaseCenter Webinar:

- Introduction to CaseCenter
- Teleconsultation/Education
- User rights management
- Scan To CaseCenter directly
- Instant access to slides/ cases from anywhere in the world.

Please download and install the free version of Pannoramic Viewer software to see our digital slides during the teleconsultation part of the presentation! 

Please, join the CaseCenter Webinar of 3DHISTECH presented by the leading company in Digital Pathology!

This event requires registration.

Topic: Webinar CaseCenter
Host: Mr. Ferenc Szipőcs
9:00 CET (13:30 IST, 16:00 SGT, 17:00 JST) 15th of November, 2011.
Registration password: 2241

-------------------------------------------------------
To register for the online event
-------------------------------------------------------
1. Click here to register
2. Click "Register".
3. On the registration form, enter your information and then click "Submit".

Once the host approves your registration, you will receive a confirmation email message with instructions on how to join the event.

-------------------------------------------------------
For assistance
-------------------------------------------------------
You can contact Mr. Ferenc Szipőcs at:
ferenc.szipocs@3dhistech.com