Pathologists at Cookeville Regional Medical Center Becomes Second in the State to Fully Digitize Pathology and Implement Artificial Intelligence

Pathologists at Cookeville Regional Medical Center (CRMC) have become the second group in the state to fully transition to a digital pathology platform, paving the way for the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in securely reading pathology reports for breast and prostates. This milestone marks a significant advancement in CRMC’s diagnostic capabilities and efficiency.

By adopting cutting-edge AI algorithms developed by Ibex, pathologists can now enhance the accuracy and speed of pathology diagnostics. This is the first implementation of Ibex’s AI technology on a fully digital platform in the country.

The AI-powered system includes organ-specific algorithms, with initial applications focused on prostate and breast pathology. These algorithms assist in pattern validation and scoring, enabling pathologists to analyze biopsy samples with greater precision. Notably, the AI can process a 12-part prostate biopsy in just 10 minutes—drastically reducing the analysis time from the traditional 45-minute manual review.

“Our transition to a fully digital pathology platform is a game-changer for both our medical staff and our patients,” said Dr. Jason Nolan, pathologist at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. “The integration of AI allows us to provide faster, more accurate diagnoses ensuring patients receive timely and effective treatment. Our pathologists are still reading and studying all the studies, like before, but we now have technology that assists us in those readings, increasing accuracy to 99%. My partner, Dr. Meiklejohn McKenzie, played a crucial role in bringing this technology to our area. This is a transformative step in pathology, and our pathology group is proud to be at the forefront of this innovation.”

The move to digital pathology and AI-enhanced diagnostics increases efficiency and ensures secure and precise evaluations, benefiting both clinicians and patients.
“The use of AI will continue to grow in healthcare. Generative AI will not replace humans, but it will assist humans and approve accuracy like never before,” said Buffy Key, CEO at CRMC. “In healthcare, pathology and radiology is where we see the most significant growth in generative AI to provide an even greater level of accuracy. We are excited for the pathologists to lead the way in implementing AI for our patients.”