Challenges and Pitfalls Navigating Interoperability in Digital Pathology

Digital pathology has promised a revolution in how labs, hospitals, and research centers deliver care. Whole slide imaging (WSI), AI-powered analysis, and remote collaboration are changing workflows at a pace never seen before. But there’s a catch: interoperability.

For many organizations, the excitement of “going digital” quickly collides with the reality that scanners, LIS/EMRs, AI tools, and archives often don’t speak the same language. The result? Delayed diagnoses, frustrated teams, and missed opportunities to improve patient care.

So what makes interoperability such a persistent challenge—and how can the industry move past it?

The Interoperability Puzzle

Digital pathology ecosystems are complex. A typical lab may use one vendor for scanners, another for LIS/EHR integration, and a third for AI tools. Without an “Any-to-Any” approach, those pieces rarely connect smoothly.

While standards like DICOM are gaining traction, adoption is still inconsistent. Some vendors support only partial implementations, forcing labs to patch together custom workflows. Others push proprietary formats, locking customers into closed ecosystems. The cost is measured not just in IT hours, but in lost efficiency and diagnostic delays.

Common Pitfalls Labs Encounter

When labs attempt to navigate interoperability on their own, they often run into the same roadblocks:

• Proprietary Lock-In
  Some platforms deliver advanced features but restrict flexibility, making it difficult to integrate third-party AI or analytics tools.
  
  
• Fragmented LIS/EHR Integration
  Connectivity exists, but often requires heavy customization, slowing rollout and adding hidden IT costs.
  
  
• Workflow Slowdowns
  When systems can’t exchange data easily, routine tasks like preparing tumor boards stretch from minutes into days.
  
  
• Hidden Complexity
  Each custom interface adds another layer of risk—costly to maintain, fragile to upgrade, and difficult to validate.
  
  

The Impact on Patient Care

These interoperability gaps aren’t just technical frustrations—they directly affect care:

• Tumor Boards Under Pressure
  Gathering complete cases—slides, clinical data, and AI results—takes time. Delays can slow multidisciplinary decisions for cancer patients.
  
  
• Quality Assurance Gaps
  Without seamless interoperability, QA checks become inconsistent, risking diagnostic confidence.
  
  
• Collaboration Barriers
  Remote or synchronous consults become harder when platforms aren’t vendor-neutral. Instead of real-time case sharing, pathologists often resort to clunky workarounds.
  
  

What Success Looks Like

The good news? True interoperability is achievable.

Platforms built on Any-to-Any integration eliminate silos by connecting scanners, LIS/EMRs, and AI tools in a single, vendor-neutral workflow.

That’s exactly what Corista’s DP3 platform delivers:

• Minutes vs. Days — Tumor board prep, QA, and case reviews are reduced to minutes, not days.
  
  
• Real-Time Collaboration — Secure, browser-based access allows teams across the globe to review slides together, live, with no extra software.
  
  
• Compliance Built-In — HIPAA, DICOM, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 readiness ensure interoperability without sacrificing security or regulatory standards.
  
  
• Future-Proof Flexibility — As new scanners, AI tools, or LIS systems enter the market, DP3 is ready to integrate them.
  
  

Moving Forward

Digital pathology can’t reach its full potential until interoperability is solved. Labs and health systems need to demand open standards, avoid vendor lock-in, and invest in solutions that integrate seamlessly today while preparing them for the future.

Because at the end of the day, interoperability isn’t just an IT priority. It’s a patient care priority.

Conclusion

Navigating interoperability in digital pathology doesn’t have to be a maze of silos, custom code, and bottlenecks. By choosing a platform designed for Any-to-Any integration, pathology teams can avoid pitfalls, accelerate collaboration, and deliver higher-quality care.

In a world where minutes matter, interoperability makes the difference between a delayed case review and a faster path to answers for patients.