In a world of global medicine, DOCTORS LABORATORY INC. is bracing itself to meet the demands of virtual telepathology and telemedicine to serve the needs of our physician clients and their patients. Telemedicine/ telepathology can be viewed as "medicine on the go," or simply "mobile medicine".

Our modern society is developing into the infamous "digital life." We shop, socialize, entertain, and even learn about new and exciting ways of doing our routine life's business "online." In a since, it is a way of loosely networking without financial obligations. And, as we all know, when we involve others with far superior experience and knowledge, and even talent, we gain significantly in many aspects. Our patients become beneficiaries of unsurpassed high- quality and evidence-based medicine.

More specifically, a number of telemedicine/telepathology digital consultation practices are beginning to be the norm rather than the exception. Experts around the world are now able to review slides in virtual digital imagery with high-resolution. In other words, diagnostic pathology slides can be viewed as if seeing the slide in reality or real time. In this way, difficult or unusual cases can be discussed with a consortium of experts without one having to leave the room, but simply connecting to a network digital data base. And, to expand on this notion, even clinico-pathologic discussions can be displayed similarly, giving a complete synopsis of patients clinical picture with the laboratory test/ or pathology results, i.e. tumor board, or selected interesting case presentation. The ultimate outcome could lead to unrecognized ways of working up a particular disease or treating and managing an illness otherwise thought not to be treatable.

Doctors Laboratory, Inc. (DLI) since, 2004, has introduced the all inclusive state of the art "web-reporting." This includes both clinical laboratory test results as well as final surgical pathology reports with digital images that the physician of record can download and share with his or her patients, while not being overburdened by limitless pages of a medical chart, but simply using, for instance a portable hand-held computer, with wireless internet network capability.

Another service that is offered at DLI is direct consultation online with our pathologists, by simply clicking on a particular pathologist's name, and calling the laboratory to speak with the pathologist about a particular laboratory result or the surgical or cytology diagnostic image, which is displayed via a high-resolute digital camera. Our laboratory prides itself on physician to pathologist direct communication; we encourage it and welcome it. It.s like having personable and direct laboratory services. We believe that when physicians communicate in comrade-like and mutually respectful ways, patients' ultimate quality healthcare is achieved.

For more information about DLI, visit our website at doctorslabinc.com. We look forward to working with you and speaking to you about how we may serve your practice.

~ Jackson L. Gates, MD, FCAP