At the Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo (KCUS), one of the largest healthcare institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, EHS implemented a comprehensive digital pathology workflow built around G-Path/Patlab and Sectra PACS.

The project connected specimen tracking, slide digitization, laboratory devices, and reporting into a single integrated workflow, improving diagnostic efficiency while maintaining full traceability across the pathology process.

Result

The implementation delivered measurable operational improvements across the pathology workflow.

Key outcomes include:

• Clear and reliable specimen tracking throughout the entire diagnostic process
• Faster processing and reporting of diagnostic results
• Fewer administrative and labeling errors through barcode-based workflows
• Better organization of pathology cases and laboratory processes
• Higher daily efficiency and improved staff productivity
• Improved quality and consistency of pathology diagnostics

In addition, the platform establishes a future-ready foundation for telepathology, AI tools, and data-driven analysis.

Challenge

Pathology workflows are inherently complex, involving multiple steps, laboratory devices, and manual processes that must remain fully traceable from specimen intake to final diagnosis.

At KCUS, the goal was to transition toward digital pathology while ensuring that all parts of the workflow remained connected and reliable.

Key operational challenges included

• Fragmented workflows across laboratory devices and imaging systems
• The need for reliable specimen and slide traceability
• Manual steps in labeling and case tracking that increased the risk of administrative errors
• Limited visibility across the full pathology workflow
• The need to prepare the pathology department for digital collaboration and telepathology

Objectives

The project aimed to establish a fully integrated digital pathology environment that would:

• Standardize pathology workflow from specimen processing to reporting
• Enable reliable specimen and slide traceability using barcode-based processes
• Digitize histology slides and connect them with pathology cases
• Improve efficiency and reduce manual administrative work
• Create a foundation for telepathology and future AI-assisted diagnostics

Solution delivered

EHS implemented a fully integrated digital pathology workflow built around G-Path/Patlab and Sectra PACS.

At KCUS, G-Path/Patlab serves as the central platform for pathology workflow management, connecting specimen tracking, case management, and laboratory processes with digital slide imaging in Sectra PACS.

Barcode-enabled cassette and slide printers ensure reliable specimen identification, while a macropath camera supports macroscopic documentation. Histological slides are digitized through a slide scanner and stored in Sectra PACS, allowing pathologists to review cases within a unified digital environment.

Integrations & interoperability

Laboratory devices, digital slide imaging, and pathology case management operate within a single connected workflow.

Specimen data and case information are managed within G-Path, while digitized slides are processed and archived through Sectra PACS. Barcode-based workflows link specimens, slides, and cases, ensuring consistent traceability and reliable data exchange across the pathology process.

Adoption & rollout approach

The transition to digital pathology was introduced gradually to ensure uninterrupted diagnostic operations.

The rollout included the deployment of digital pathology infrastructure, integration of laboratory devices and imaging systems, and training of pathology staff on the new workflow. This phased approach enabled the department to adopt digital pathology while maintaining continuity of daily laboratory work.

Workflow overview diagram

Integration map