Exceptional patient care has been a core focus of Spectrum Healthcare Partners since the beginning. Digital pathology (the process of converting traditional glass slides of tissue samples into high-resolution digital images) and live microscopy (the technique of observing living cells and their processes in real-time) are important to this mission.
Through collaborations with Central Maine Healthcare, Plastic + Hand Surgical Associates, and MaineHealth, Spectrum medical experts using digital pathology and live microscopy can give patients faster access to the answers and treatments they need closer to home.
Central Maine Healthcare Digital Pathology Launch
“We’ve been partners for over four years, successfully implementing initiatives that have improved safety and quality in the lab, especially in Anatomic Pathology, barcoding, and tracking,” says Mark Steciuk, MD, PhD, Spectrum pathologist and chief of pathology at Central Maine Healthcare. “This next step furthers state-of-the-art pathology services for patients in central Maine.”
In October 2024, Spectrum launched a digital pathology platform at Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston. While the histology department still creates physical slides of patients’ tissues in the laboratory, they are now scanned by a whole slide imager and uploaded to a digital microscopy workstation. The slides are then accessible to specialists across our network and potentially even nationwide.
“This new system enhances both speed and operational efficiency for Spectrum and Central Maine Healthcare,” adds Dr. Steciuk. “Most importantly, digital pathology allows us to deliver safer, faster, and more efficient patient care.”
The Importance of Live Microscopy
Plastic + Hand Surgical Associates specializes in the removal and surgical treatment of cancerous and precancerous skin lesions. Live microscopy, in collaboration with Spectrum Healthcare Partners, guides this process.
“Frozen sections occur while the patient is undergoing surgery, and the surgeon needs real-time information to complete the procedure appropriately,” explains Michael Harvey, MD, managing director of Spectrum’s Pathology division. (In frozen section pathology, a fresh tissue sample is quickly frozen, thinly sliced, and examined under a microscope to provide an immediate diagnosis during surgery.)
Pathologists’ assistants (PAs), such as pathologists’ assistant supervisor Elizabeth Hamir, PA, (ASCP)cm, play a critical role with live microscopy. PAs microscopically examine the specimen and prepare the tissue for the pathologist to interpret remotely.
“The goal is to achieve clear margins while keeping the excision as small as possible,” says Hamir. “If the margin is positive, the surgeon can immediately review it, pinpoint the exact area, and take a new margin during the same procedure. Particularly in delicate areas like the face, minimizing the excision size is important.”
This collaboration is crucial to the surgeons. “Once we’re confident the cancer is gone, we close the wound utilizing plastic surgical techniques to minimize scarring—including the use of flaps and skin grafts as needed—all in one operation,” says Sirish Maddali, MD, FACS, president of Plastic + Hand Surgical Associates. “This process ensures patients don’t need to keep coming back until the margins are clear, giving them peace of mind in a single visit.”
Beyond patient care, live microscopy benefits the healthcare industry. “With live microscopy, we can cover more ground with the same number of pathologists,” adds Dr. Harvey.
“It keeps our team centralized while pathologist assistants handle frozen sections in the field, improving efficiency and helping us navigate staffing shortages.”
With new live microscopy instruments across various locations, smaller surgeries, especially outpatient procedures, can now be performed more efficiently within local areas.
“We’re expanding into more communities, offering patients shorter travel distances and quicker turnaround times, even for more complex care,” says Dr. Harvey. “This technology elevates the level of care at facilities where distance and time were once barriers.”
Spectrum Healthcare Partners and MaineHealth/NorDx continuously drive technological advancements and enhance patient care across our state. The integration of live microscopy is part of this. Future enhancements may be right around the corner, with artificial intelligence on the scene.
The Future of AI in Pathology
While artificial intelligence (AI) is still new to pathology, its potential is promising. “We anticipate AI models applied to specific types of specimens will enhance how we make diagnoses,” says Dr. Steciuk.
Rather than relying solely on traditional glass slides and the human eye, AI can guide pathologists to the areas needing attention, improving accuracy and patient safety.
“This is an exciting new avenue for digital pathology we haven’t had access to before,” adds Dr. Steciuk. “I hope it will bring a new level of safety and quality to what we already do now.”
Patient-Centered Pathology Care
While technology continues to revolutionize pathology, patient needs remain at the heart of the work.
“Pathology is ever-expanding, and no single pathologist can specialize in every area,” says Dr. Steciuk. “Access to subspecialists ensures patients receive the most accurate diagnoses.”
Geography presents a challenge in Maine, but digital pathology helps bridge this gap. “It allows us to move images to the right specialists quickly,” adds Dr. Steciuk. “This access to subspecialty care improves quality and time to treatment.”
“Our goal is to provide top-tier pathology services that meet patient needs,” says Dr. Harvey. “As our service area grows and people seek care in various locations, we’re committed to ensuring patients can access the expert care they deserve, wherever they are.”
You can learn more about Spectrum’s pathology division here—including opportunities to join our team.
