Central Maine Healthcare (CMH) has taken a significant step to upgrade its pathology services by partnering with Spectrum Healthcare Partners (SHCP) to implement digital pathology technology. This collaboration brings autonomous, AI-powered scanners developed by Pramana into CMH’s diagnostic process, making it the first hospital in Maine to use this technology. The goal? To make pathology workflows smoother and provide more accurate, timely diagnostics.
According to Dr. Mark Steciuk, a board-certified pathologist with SHCP and chief of pathology at CMH, the new system couldn’t have come at a better time. “Digital pathology is transforming how we deliver care at Central Maine Healthcare,” he said. “With these autonomous scanners, we can produce more reliable results, give our team quicker access to subspecialized expertise, and make it easier for pathologists to work together, which ultimately benefits our patients.”
The scanners used in this setup, Pramana’s SpectralHT, automatically assess slide quality and deliver high-resolution images that can help pathologists make diagnoses with more confidence. CMH’s setup also integrates with Proscia’s software, which organizes diagnostic workflows and helps pathologists manage cases more efficiently. Together, these tools will make it easier for pathologists to handle rising volumes of biopsy work and offer patients and referring doctors quicker, more reliable diagnoses.
Mike Koenig from Pramana noted the potential for the technology to reduce the workload in labs and set the foundation for future improvements, saying, “Our scanners are designed to support efficient workflows and have built-in quality control, which means less manual oversight and more consistent results.”
The partnership combines SHCP’s specialized knowledge and CMH’s wide reach within Maine, including services at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Bridgton Hospital, and Rumford Hospital. For CMH, integrating this technology marks an important move toward improving care for the communities it serves.