Systems and methods for analyzing workflow associated with a pathology laboratory

Abstract

A computer system for analyzing a specimen processing workflow in a pathology laboratory including a display and a processor configured to provide a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface to the display, receive, via the first interface, a first set of parameters associated with an existing specimen processing workflow in a pathology laboratory, the first set of parameters including a workflow process and a workflow scale, and determine, based on the first set of parameters, current performance data of the existing specimen processing workflow having an associated current cost information and current time utilization. The processor may further be configured to receive, via the second interface, a second set of parameters associated with a proposed modification to the existing specimen processing workflow, the second set of parameters including parameters associated with at least one laboratory device, determine, based on the first and second sets of parameters, revised performance data having an associated revised cost information and revised time utilization, and provide an output comprising a comparison between revised performance data and the current performance data.

1 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A system for analyzing a workflow in a pathology laboratory, comprising:
 a processor configured to execute a software analysis tool that provides a first interface, a second interface, and a third interface, wherein the first and second interfaces each include at least one data entry form; and   a display configured to display the first interface, the second interface, and the third interface, wherein a set of parameters related to a workflow in a pathology laboratory that include a workflow process and a workflow scale are displayed via the first interface and a proposed modification to the set of parameters that reflects at least one laboratory device is selectable via the second interface, and   wherein the processor and software analysis tool is configured to:
 initiate an analysis of the workflow in the pathology laboratory based on the set of parameters and the proposed modification; and 
 provide to the display a set of results generated by the analysis for review via the third interface, wherein the set of results reflects an estimated effect of the proposed modifications. 
   
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the workflow scale comprises at least one parameter chose from a number of cases per unit time, a number of specimen output pieces from an H&E staining process per unit time, a number of specimen output pieces from an IHC staining process per unit time, a number of specimen output pieces from a special staining process per unit time, number of specimen output pieces from an ISH staining process per unit time, and a number of blocks per unit time. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the unit time is one year. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the estimated effect comprises at least one of a revised success rate, a revised labor time, or a revised cost. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the revised cost comprises at last one of a revised instrument cost, a revised overhead cost, a revised error cost, a revised labor cost, a revised consumables cost, a revised waste cost, or a revised service cost. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the revised cost includes a revised cost per specimen output piece. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the set of results can be reviewed based on at least one particular workflow process or a particular station associated with the pathology laboratory. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 42 , wherein the particular station comprises at least one of a receiving station, a grossing station, a tissue processing station, a sectioning station, a staining station, or an imaging station. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the at least one laboratory device comprises at least one of an autostainer device, a microtome device, a specimen identifying device, a specimen marking device, an image sharing device, an image analysis device, a cover slipping device, a slide pretreatment device, a tissue processing device, or an information display device. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the set of results are provided as one or more charts and one or more tables. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the processor and software analysis tool is further configured to:
 determine, based on the set of parameters, current performance data of the existing specimen processing workflow having an associated cost information and current time utilization; and   determine, based on the set of parameters and the proposed modification, revised performance data having an associated revised cost information and revised time utilization.   
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the current cost information comprises a cost per specimen output piece. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the specimen output piece comprises a specimen slide. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the current performance data further comprises an error time and an error cost. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the revised time utilization comprises a revised success rate, a revised labor time, and a revised device time. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the processor is configured to provide at least one additional interface. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 46 , where the processor is further configured to provide an output comprising a comparison between the revised performance data and the current performance data. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein one or more chart and one or more tables show data related to a performance position of the pathology laboratory and forecasted performance data of the pathology laboratory. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the estimated effect comprises at least one of a forecasted performance, a performance validation, or workflow optimization. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 46 , where the processor is further configured to provide an output comprising a comparison between an actual cost per specimen output piece and a previously forecasted cost per specimen output piece, and an actual success rate and a previously forecasted success rate.