Pathologist interacting with a holographic PACS interface.

Pathology PACS: Enhancing User Experience in Medical Imaging Systems

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Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how user-centered design can revolutionize pathology workflows, improving efficiency and accuracy in medical information systems."


In today's rapidly advancing world of information technology, healthcare has seen profound changes. Hospitals now rely on a variety of digital tools to manage everything from patient records to complex medical images. The rapid integration of computer technology has transformed traditional hospital functions, streamlining administrative tasks, enhancing clinical examinations, and revolutionizing information management. At the heart of this transformation are systems like Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Order Communication Systems (OCSs), and Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), which enhance telemedicine capabilities.

While the introduction of these medical information systems has undoubtedly brought numerous advantages, a critical aspect often overlooked is user experience (UX). User experience focuses on improving satisfaction, efficiency, and ease of use for healthcare professionals. This approach emphasizes the importance of developing systems that are not only functionally robust but also intuitive and user-friendly. Focusing on UX ensures technology genuinely improves the quality of care.

This article delves into enhancing Pathology Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) through better user interface design. By understanding and addressing the needs of pathologists, we can develop more effective systems, potentially reducing errors and improving diagnostic accuracy. This user-centered approach promises to improve overall workflow and make healthcare technology more effective for both practitioners and patients.

Why User Experience Matters in Pathology PACS

Pathologist interacting with a holographic PACS interface.

Pathology PACS is vital for managing and interpreting pathology images and data. It is an integrated system that plays a crucial role in filmless hospitals, which facilitate the storage, retrieval, interpretation, and output of pathology images and data. For this to work, image display and processing, information management, networking, databases, user interfaces, and information storage must be integrated.

Despite the clear advantages of Pathology PACS, most systems are developed with a primary focus on functionality, often overlooking the crucial element of user experience. Pathologists interact with Web-based Pathology PACS daily, making it essential to enhance these systems for improved workflow efficiency. When systems do not align with user needs, it can lead to inefficiencies, errors, and increased frustration among healthcare professionals.

  • Improved Efficiency: A well-designed interface reduces the time spent on each task, allowing pathologists to process more cases quickly.
  • Reduced Errors: Intuitive systems minimize the risk of data entry and interpretation errors.
  • Enhanced Satisfaction: User-friendly technology boosts job satisfaction among healthcare professionals.
  • Better Training: Easy-to-navigate systems reduce the learning curve for new users.
  • Cost Savings: By reducing inefficiencies and errors, user-centered design can lead to significant cost savings for healthcare organizations.
Recognizing the importance of these factors, a recent study analyzed the user interface of Pathology PACS to identify areas for improvement. The study employed hierarchical task analysis to break down the various tasks performed by pathologists into detailed steps. By observing and documenting these steps, researchers pinpointed the most frequently used functions and the pain points experienced by users. This approach allowed for a more targeted and effective redesign of the user interface.

The Future of Pathology PACS: User-Centered Design

Enhancing the user interface of Pathology PACS is an ongoing process that requires continuous feedback and adaptation. By prioritizing user experience, healthcare organizations can unlock the full potential of medical information systems, leading to better patient care and more efficient workflows. This article serves as a call to action for medical technology developers and healthcare providers to embrace user-centered design principles and invest in creating systems that truly meet the needs of their users.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What are Pathology Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS), and why are they important in hospitals?

Pathology Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) are essential for managing and interpreting pathology images and data within modern healthcare facilities. These integrated systems are critical in filmless hospitals, facilitating the storage, retrieval, interpretation, and output of pathology-related visual information. Pathology PACS integrates image display and processing, information management, networking, databases, user interfaces, and information storage to streamline pathology workflows.

2

Why is user experience (UX) considered important when discussing Pathology PACS?

User experience (UX) is vital because it directly impacts the efficiency, accuracy, and satisfaction of healthcare professionals using Pathology PACS. A well-designed user interface reduces the time spent on tasks, minimizes errors in data entry and interpretation, enhances job satisfaction, improves training outcomes, and ultimately leads to cost savings for healthcare organizations. When systems align well with user needs, workflows become more streamlined, and healthcare providers can focus more effectively on patient care.

3

What are the potential benefits of focusing on user interface (UI) design in Pathology PACS?

Focusing on the user interface (UI) design of Pathology PACS can lead to several improvements, including increased efficiency, reduced errors, enhanced user satisfaction, better training outcomes, and cost savings. An intuitive and user-friendly interface allows pathologists to process cases more quickly and accurately. A well-designed UI reduces the learning curve for new users, making training more effective. Minimizing inefficiencies and errors translates into significant cost savings for healthcare organizations, making UI design a critical investment.

4

Besides Pathology PACS, what other medical information systems are commonly used in healthcare, and how do they relate to each other?

Medical information systems like Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Order Communication Systems (OCS) are used alongside Pathology PACS to manage patient data and streamline healthcare operations. These systems, when integrated effectively, enhance telemedicine capabilities and provide a comprehensive approach to patient care. For instance, while Pathology PACS handles visual data, EMRs manage patient histories and treatment plans, ensuring a holistic and efficient healthcare workflow.

5

What does user-centered design mean in the context of Pathology PACS, and why is it beneficial?

User-centered design involves prioritizing the needs and feedback of pathologists when developing and enhancing Pathology PACS. This approach requires continuous feedback and adaptation to ensure the system meets the user's needs, potentially reducing errors and improving diagnostic accuracy. By investing in user-centered design principles, healthcare organizations can unlock the full potential of medical information systems, leading to better patient care and more efficient workflows.

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