AP Derm + NovoPath
How a Growing Dermatopathology Lab Eliminated Manual Bottlenecks and Absorbed Volume Without Adding Headcount
The Challenge: Complex Workflows Holding Back Efficiency
AP Derm’s lab was running on manual processes that couldn’t keep pace with growth.
Specimen accessioning meant handwriting case numbers onto paper, physically checking labels against specimens in containers, and manually applying stickers — one at a time. Slide and cassette printing was disconnected. Recuts and end-of-day tasks relied entirely on individual memory.
In Dr. Toyohara’s words:
“I would hand write onto a sheet of paper, check everything against the wreck in the bottle, and then manually apply a sticker, manually print slides and cassettes. If I wrote down the wrong number or I forgot to send the recut at the end of the day, that would be an error.” — Jennifer Toyohara, MD, AP Derm
Every step was a potential failure point. And as case volume grew, the risk grew with it.
What Needed to Change for AP Derm to Thrive
- Manual accessioning introduced transcription errors and slowed throughput
- Disconnected workflows meant no single system of record for case tracking
- No automation on slides, cassettes, or recuts — all dependent on individual execution
- Scalability was a ceiling, not a floor — more volume meant more people, more risk, more friction
The Solution: A Purpose-Built LIS
AP Derm implemented NovoPath — a laboratory information system built specifically for anatomic pathology labs.
Rather than stretching a clinical or practice management platform to cover lab operations, NovoPath gave AP Derm a dedicated system configured to their exact workflows: automated accessioning, integrated slide and cassette printing, recut tracking, and end-of-day case management — all in one place.
The configuration wasn’t generic. NovoPath was built out to match AP Derm’s specific specimen types, team structure, and reporting needs.
The Results with NovoPath + ModMed Integration
Volume absorbed. Headcount stable.
“The implementation of NovoPath has allowed us to accept a significant amount of growth this year without the impact that we would have had prior to the implementation in terms of staffing. So much is automated and totally configured and unique to the needs of our lab.” — Jennifer Toyohara, MD, AP Derm
- Manual error risk eliminated at accessioning — no more handwritten labels or mismatched case numbers
- Automation absorbed volume that would have previously required additional staff
- Lab workflows are now configured, not improvised — consistency built into the system, not dependent on individuals
- Growth is no longer a staffing equation — the lab scales through process, not headcount
The Results with NovoPath + ModMed Integration
Dermatopathology labs running high volumes on manual processes or EMR add-on modules eventually hit the same wall: the system wasn’t designed for what the lab actually does.
NovoPath was. Every workflow AP Derm runs — accessioning, tracking, reporting, recuts, is handled by a system purpose-built for pathology labs, configured to their specific environment, and supported by a team that understands the lab, not just the software.
Schedule a Demo
In order to see what NovoPath is capable of, and the right fit for your lab, schedule a demo with one of our LIS experts.
