Industry Insights
ECPC’s Strategic Leap into Digital Pathology - A Connected Vision for the Future
November 6, 2025
When Eastern Connecticut Pathology Consultants (ECPC) decided to enter the world of digital pathology, they did so with a clear mission: modernize their workflow, strengthen collaboration across sites, and position the practice for an AI-driven future.
That mission came to life during the “ECPC’s Strategic Leap into Digital Pathology” webinar, hosted by Dark Daily and sponsored by LigoLab and Proscia. The session brought together ECPC’s Dr. Thomas Buck, Dr. Michael Chang, Kristen Conley (CIO), and Rebecca Dilorio (Executive Director), along with Suren Avunjian (CEO, LigoLab) and Arun Ananth (Chief Commercial Officer, Proscia).
Together, they shared an impactful story of innovation, partnership, and perseverance, offering a clear roadmap for other pathology groups to follow.
Editor’s Note: What follows is a summary of the Dark Daily-hosted webinar that aired live on October 30, 2025. An on-demand version of the webinar is linked below.
On-Demand Webinar: ECPC’s Strategic Leap into Digital Pathology
A Growing Practice Ready for Change
Founded in 1993, ECPC has grown from a three-pathologist team serving one hospital into a regional network of 25 board-certified pathologists covering five hospitals and six independent laboratories across Connecticut and southern Massachusetts.
Over the years, ECPC built a reputation for subspecialty excellence across GI, GU, breast, dermatopathology, cytopathology, and hematopathology. But as the group expanded, logistical challenges followed.
“Moving glass slides between sites was expensive and time-consuming,” said Dr. Buck. “We needed a smarter, faster, and more collaborative way to work.”
The solution: a unified digital pathology ecosystem powered by Proscia’s Concentriq image management system, tightly integrated with the all-in-one LigoLab LIS & RCM Laboratory Informatics Platform.
Revisiting a Decade-Old Vision
ECPC’s first attempt at digital pathology came ten years ago, but at the time, technology and infrastructure weren’t ready. Scanners were slower, cloud computing was immature, and data integration was limited.
Fast-forward to today, and both the tools and the need have evolved. With Proscia, LigoLab, and a cloud-first IT strategy, ECPC re-engaged with digital pathology and never looked back.
“We started scanning for primary diagnosis about six months ago,” said Dilorio. “Half of our pathologists are validated or in the process, and our digital footprint is expanding rapidly.”
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Building a Cloud-Native Foundation
When Conley joined ECPC in 2019, the practice had no owned applications or infrastructure. Her first task was to establish an IT foundation built for scale.
Working from a hospital campus without on-prem servers, Conley implemented a fully cloud-based ecosystem, and most importantly, LigoLab’s hosted laboratory information system (LIS) platform running on Microsoft Azure.
“LigoLab stood out immediately,” she said. “They provided the infrastructure, the backup, the security, and the scalability we needed from day one. It was a no-brainer.”
This cloud foundation became the launchpad for ECPC’s digital pathology initiative. When the group decided to implement Proscia’s Concentriq, they needed local bandwidth for scanner-to-server communication. Conley secured a dedicated 1-gigabit line, new workstations, and a private data closet to ensure lightning-fast performance.
The partnership with LigoLab and Proscia created a fully integrated architecture that connects every step, from accessioning and grossing to scanning and diagnosis, in real time.
A Seamless, Fully Integrated Workflow
Integration was non-negotiable. ECPC wanted bidirectional, contextual communication between LigoLab’s laboratory information system and Proscia’s image management platform.
“Every case, every image, and every report stays linked automatically,” explained Avunjian. “When laboratory software systems communicate directly, data moves freely and securely, and the lab operates like an intelligent organism.”
Here’s how it works:
- Accessioning in LigoLab triggers a placeholder in Concentriq, preparing the system for incoming images.
- As slides are scanned, the images are automatically returned to the lab information system.
- Pathologists launch directly into the digital viewer with a single click, no searching, no extra sign-ins.
- Captured images and annotations are displayed immediately in the LigoLab report preview window.
“It’s fully contextual,” continued Avunjian. “The pathologist opens a case in LigoLab, and the LIS system launches the correct slide set in Concentriq, tied directly to that specimen. The integration works both ways.”
This connected environment eliminates manual case matching and disconnected workflows. It also sets the stage for AI-driven diagnostics, with all data already structured, traceable, and centralized.
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Future-Proofing for AI and Continuous Growth
“Digital pathology isn’t just about replacing the microscope with a monitor,” said Ananth. “It’s about building a foundation for intelligent automation and AI.”
He noted that interoperability, scalability, and user experience are critical design pillars for any successful digital transformation.
“The pathologist’s workflow must be intuitive,” said Ananth. “We’re not just digitizing slides, we’re empowering faster, more confident diagnosis and continuous improvement.”
With Proscia’s Concentriq platform, ECPC can layer in AI algorithms for image quantification, biomarker analysis, and automated triage, all feeding structured data back into LigoLab’s advanced LIS software. This creates a continuous feedback loop between the diagnostic and operational layers of the lab.
“This architecture is AI-ready,” said Avunjian. “We’re laying the groundwork for algorithms to work natively within the LIS system and become part of everyday diagnostic workflow.”
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Overcoming Challenges and Learning Along the Way
Like any transformation, ECPC’s digital journey had its hurdles. Early infrastructure challenges, scanner performance issues, and pathology lab software optimizations required close collaboration across all partners.
But thanks to open communication and agile support from both LigoLab and Proscia, issues were resolved quickly. “They never left us hanging,” said Conley. “Every challenge led to a better, more stable solution.”
Operationally, ECPC also learned the importance of dedicated scanning teams and consistent quality control. Histology staff were trained to ensure slides were clean, centered, and optimized for scanning.
“We realized that quality control is as critical digitally as it is under the microscope,” said Dilorio. “Dedicated resources and strong communication made all the difference.”
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A Pathologist’s Perspective: From Skeptic to Advocate
For Dr. Chang, the transition from microscope to monitor was both exciting and intimidating.
“I’ve spent years in front of a microscope,” he said. “So naturally, I was skeptical. But after a short learning curve - maybe two weeks - I found the software intuitive and efficient.”
Dr. Chang now signs out cases digitally and appreciates features like voice navigation, high-resolution image capture, and streamlined peer review.
“What used to take days now takes minutes,” he said. “I can share a case instantly through Microsoft Teams, and within 10–15 minutes, I have feedback from three or four colleagues.”
This rapid collaboration, powered by the LigoLab–Proscia integration, enhances diagnostic confidence, accelerates turnaround times, and directly improves patient care.
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The ROI and the Bigger Picture
While digital pathology requires a sizable upfront investment, the long-term gains are substantial. ECPC anticipates major savings on courier costs, estimated at over $200,000 per year, and improved operational efficiency across the board.
Dr. Buck emphasized that ROI goes beyond dollars. “It’s about staying relevant,” he said. “Our clients are asking for AI and digital tools. We’re building a practice that’s ready for what’s next.”
The ECPC team expects to be a fully digital practice within a year, supported by continuous innovation from LigoLab and Proscia.
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Lessons for Laboratories Everywhere
When asked what advice they’d offer to labs just beginning their digital transformation, Avunjian and Ananth agreed on three key points:
- Start with workflow, not technology. Map how your lab really operates and identify bottlenecks before evaluating systems.
- Prioritize interoperability and scalability. Choose platforms that communicate seamlessly and adapt as your lab grows.
- Treat implementation as a partnership, not a purchase. “Choose lab vendors that build with you, not just for you,” said Avunjian.
Conley added that leadership and internal champions are essential: “You need people who will hold the vision when challenges arise.”
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A Connected Future for Pathology
ECPC’s digital journey highlights what’s possible when pathology, informatics, and AI come together in one unified system.
By pairing LigoLab’s all-in-one LIS & RCM platform with Proscia’s Concentriq image management system, ECPC built a connected, interoperable environment that supports faster diagnoses, richer data, and a stronger foundation for future innovation.
“This is what interoperability looks like in action,” said Avunjian. “Advanced pathology lab software connecting people, data, and purpose.”
For ECPC, the future of pathology goes beyond digital. It’s connected, intelligent, and built for continuous evolution.
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Learn More
To learn how the LigoLab-Proscia integration can help your laboratory modernize operations, unify data, and prepare for AI-driven diagnostics, contact a LigoLab product specialist today.
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