Acupath Laboratories, a premier, nationwide provider of sub-specialized anatomic pathology and molecular diagnostic services, shares its journey to full digital pathology adoption.
About Acupath Laboratories
Acupath’s quest for diagnostic excellence began in 1995 in New Hyde Park, New York as a specialized dermatology lab and the company officially became Acupath in 2004 at its current location in Plainview, New York to reflect its expansion into a comprehensive, one-stop shop for high-quality diagnostics. Today, Acupath supports over 700 active clients across multiple specialties, including urology, gastroenterology, dermatology, and hematopathology. Its steady growth is a testament to their success; last year alone, they processed 300,000 biopsies.
At its core, Acupath deeply values high standards of quality and patient care. Its rare and voluntary triple accreditation from New York State, the College of American Pathologists (CAP), and The Joint Commission signal Acupath’s exceptional commitment to the integrity of diagnostic medicine.
We sat down with Brian Kunkel, Chief Operating Officer of Acupath, to learn about the real-world impact of digitizing a high-volume national laboratory and how digital supports Acupath’s mission to deliver unparalleled patient service.
Going Digital: A Natural Progression for Acupath Labs
Acupath’s strategic transition into digital pathology was driven by the need to support national growth and maintain service quality. So, when searching for digital solutions, they prioritized finding something that enabled them to do the following:
- Remove geographic barriers so they could serve clients from the Northeast all the way to California without the delay of waiting for physical slides to travel long distances.
- Increase operational speed by enabling Technical Component (TC) clients to be able to access slides for review almost immediately after scanning.
- Enable AI readiness to prepare for future AI integrations.
- Enhance their diagnostic capabilities with access to tools like semi-quantitative counting and case triage.
Choosing Tools
Constructing a digital ecosystem for their pathologists was a large undertaking. Acupath needed a partner that offered more than just a viewer; they required a modular system that could integrate with their homegrown Laboratory Information System (LIS).
Finding an Image Management System (IMS) was the first big step. Ultimately, the decision came down to which system would be able to grow with them and prioritized the pathologists’ experience with seamless integrations and modular components.
In the end, they decided to partner with Lumea. Brian Kunkel commented, “It just made sense [to go with Lumea]. We could start with their IMS and grow based on our needs.” Since then, Acupath has expanded its use of Lumea’s suite to include grossing cameras, which provide high-resolution images of biopsies and cores directly on reports.
Real-World Results
While the industry often speaks of digital pathology’s potential, Acupath is already seeing tangible benefits. “It’s an all-around improvement tool,” Brian notes. “Costing, efficiencies, growth, and diagnoses—it just checks off all the boxes.”
After making the switch to digital, Acupath has experienced these benefits:
- Instant Access: Doctors no longer wait for the morning courier or a UPS truck to begin their work. The moment a slide hits the scanner, it’s available for review.
- Operational Agility: Internally, the lab has moved away from “shipping-first” scheduling. Instead of rushing cases to meet a courier’s departure time, the team can now prioritize based on clinical urgency and internal workflow optimization.
- Accelerated Reflex Testing: The process for ordering additional stains, such as Pin4 for prostate cases, is significantly faster in a virtual environment, removing the friction of retrieving and re-processing physical glass.
- Improved Hiring and Retention: Acupath’s advanced digital workflow is drawing in the new generation of tech-savvy pathologists who seek digital tools and a better work-life balance.
For Acupath, going digital hasn’t just improved the bottom line. It’s become a primary driver of organic business growth, with clients now seeking out the lab specifically for its advanced digital capabilities.
Advice from a Digital Veteran
As Brian Kunkel reflected on Acupath’s digital pathology journey, he offered the following strategic advice for labs and practices looking to make the leap:
- Think Big (and Then Double it): Don’t be short-sighted when considering your digital capacity. He advises that whatever you estimate your needs to be, you should double it, as the transition and data requirements will grow faster than you think.
- Define Your Unique Strategy: Perform due diligence based on your specific growth needs and storage limitations rather than just following in another’s footsteps.
- Prepare for Unknown Unknowns: Brian acknowledged that, during implementation, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” He highlights the need to be prepared to pivot and make decisions on the fly when unforeseen issues arise.
- Prepare to Persist: Despite the inevitable hurdles of implementation, Brian encouraged, “Don’t give up. It’s definitely worth it.”
The Future is Already Here
Acupath’s digital transformation isn’t just about workflow optimization and technological advancement, it’s about the person behind the biopsy. By stripping away the logistical delays of physical couriers and the limitations of glass-only workflows, Acupath has ensured that their exceptional standard of care is available to any patient, anywhere, at any time.
As the industry evolves and diagnostic needs and capabilities change, Acupath isn’t just watching from the sidelines, they are already on the field. Through their partnership with Lumea and a relentless commitment to quality, Acupath proves that with the right strategy and some determination, the move to digital delivers more than a technology upgrade. It’s a fundamental promise to provide better, faster, and more accurate answers for the patients who need them most.
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