Featured Department: DSD
Our Diagnostic Stewardship Department Sets the Standards of Diagnostic Quality Through EQA and Tumour Board Support
It’s our pleasure to highlight the innovative and uniquely-named Diagnostic Stewardship Department (DSD).
Well known to pathologists and laboratories in the network, DSD is at the forefront of ensuring accuracy, consistency, and collaboration. Through its External Quality Assurance (EQA) program, Tumour Board support and daily management of quality-related queries, this trail-blazing department is quietly transforming healthcare in Kenya.
Last year, DSD introduced a histology EQA (external quality assurance) programme for TPN partner laboratories. This programme has significantly improved histology slide quality across partner labs, ensuring consistent, high-standard diagnostics.
How DSD’s EQA Programme Improves Diagnostics
- Higher diagnostic accuracy – Reliable, standardised slides improve interpretation
- Stronger laboratory reputation – Partner labs meet top-tier quality standards
- Better clinical outcomes – Accurate reports enhance patient care
By maintaining rigorous quality control, DSD has strengthened trust in partner laboratories and reinforced its commitment to excellence.
DSD plays a pivotal role in Tumour Boards, leveraging digital pathology to streamline real-time case reviews.
Why This Matters
- Quality through collaboration – Tumour boards bring together surgeons, pathologists, oncologists and radiologists to select the best cancer treatment
- Faster decision-making – Virtual tumour boards supported by digital pathology enable faster clinical decisions
- Improved patient care – Tumour boards promote evidence-based treatment, thus improving outcomes.
By leveraging various technologies, including digital pathology and Spes360, DSD enables efficient collaboration between client clinicians and pathologists, supporting them as they make critical life-saving treatment decisions for cancer patients.
