Using equipment that scans glass pathology slides and stores and transmits the images electronically, KingMed--the largest independent medical diagnostic laboratory in China--will have the ability to seek second opinions on patient diagnoses from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC’s) pathologists through a secure, Web-based telepathology portal. The service is expected to start by late summer.
McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicineaffiliated faculty member George Michalopoulos, MD, PhD (pictured), UPMC pathologist and professor and chairman of the Department of Pathology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, said, “This 3-year agreement will provide patients served by KingMed with rapid access to UPMC’s world-renowned pathologists, thereby helping to ensure the most accurate diagnoses of complex diseases.” The University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology is the largest academic clinical organization of its kind, with 175 faculty members.
“KingMed is committed to offering the most comprehensive, highest-quality laboratory services in China,” said Yaoming Liang, founder and CEO of KingMed Diagnostics. “This agreement with UPMC demonstrates that commitment and provides our patients with access to another source of pathology expertise that is not widely available in China.”
UPMC’s collaboration with KingMed also is expected to include training for pathologists from China in UPMC’s Pittsburgh facilities and joint academic meetings as part of ongoing medical education in China.
In the future, KingMed may replace its telepathology platform with the digital pathology solutions being created by Omnyx, a joint venture between UPMC and GE Healthcare. Formed in 2008, Omnyx is digitizing slides and the corresponding workflow to improve collaboration, communication, and efficiency. Omnyx is the first company ever formed by GE with an academic medical center.
Illustration: McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
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UPMC Media Relations (06/01/11)
BioSpectrum (06/01/11)
Bio: Dr. George Michalopoulos