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Rapid On-Site Evaluation of cytological samples obtained through fine needle aspiration for adequacy is a critical component of a cytology service; however, it imposes a significant time and cost burden for the practicing pathologist and the cytology service. Telecytology enables adequacy assessment by a pathologist remotely, greatly saving time. Telecytology also allows slide preparation and manipulation at the procedure site by an employee with less training requirements, liberating the cytotechnologist to screen cases and perform other laboratory duties – an important aspect to consider during times of cytotechnologist shortages. We propose a telecytology system with a simple setup of a microscope, microscope camera, laptop, and Microsoft Teams software. We designed a system consisting of a mobile cart, backup battery, microscope, digital camera, and a laptop computer with microscope imaging software and Microsoft Teams software for image transmission. Validation was performed by 4 pathologists making adequacy assessments on randomly selected previously signed out cases using the telecytology system. Our validation of this system demonstrated a greater than 90% concurrence rate between the original adequacy call and the call made by pathologists using the telecytology system – a benchmark used by most, if not all, published validations of similar telecytology systems. In addition, the adequacy assessment concordance rate between select pathologists exceeded 90%. In summary, our telecytology system provides excellent adequacy services for the clinicians and patients we serve. The Microsoft Teams software is a great tool for transmission of video microscopy. This system will be used with the goal of saving time and increasing efficiency for the cytopathology department. • We designed a telecytology system using microscope mounted cameras, camera software, and Microsoft Teams software. • To date, we have not encountered another telecytology system with this setup in the literature. • We validated our telecytology system for adequacy with a >90% concordance agreement between the original evaluation and the evaluation using our telecytology system. • This is the recommended concordance target for validation per current literature and the recommendations published by the American Society for Cytopathology (ASC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) has been used during the endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) procedure as standard practice. Because of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, our institute had had to discontinue ROSE and adopt a direct-to-cell block approach. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether this change has had significant effects on the cytopathology quality. A total of 1903 EBUS-TBNA cases from 734 patients were collected (1097 cases with ROSE for 452 patients; 806 cases without ROSE but with direct-to-cell block for 282 patients). The clinical and cytology data were analyzed using SAS, version 9.4, software to render calculated standardized residuals and a fitted multivariate generalized linear model. On average, a biopsy from a patient with ROSE was 0.936 (=exp −0.066) times less likely to be reported as satisfactory compared with a biopsy from a patient without ROSE, although the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.785). The inadequacy rate of EBUS-TBNA was 6.4% higher on average for cases with ROSE compared with a direct-to-cell block approach. However, this difference was also not statistically significant. The proportions of biopsies reported as diagnostic for malignancy and other were significantly different between the ROSE and no-ROSE groups with a standardized residual of 1.80 (P = 0.036) and −2.27 (P = 0.012), respectively. Discontinuing ROSE and using a direct-to-cell block approach had no negative effects on cytopathology quality. This practice can be considered acceptable during the COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing and the shortage of staff and supplies have resulted in challenges to delivering quality care to cancer patients whose treatment cannot be postponed. • Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) has been utilized during the endobronchial ultrasound transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) procedure is a standard practice. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our institute had to discontinue ROSE and adopted a direct-to-cellblock approach. We were concerned this practice may have significant negative impact on patient care. • A comparison of a total of 1903 EBUS-TBNA cases from 734 patients were collected (1097 cases with ROSE on 452 patients; 806 cases without ROSE/direct-to-cellblock on 282 patients) were carefully studied. • We were relieved to know that so far discontinuing ROSE and using a direct-to-cellblock approach does not cause negative impact on cytopathology quality. Thus, this practice is acceptable during COVID-19 pandemic when social distancing and shortage of staff and supplies presenting challenges to deliver quality care to cancer patients whose care cannot be postponed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Business sector productivity growth is central to Canadians' future prosperity. This article reviews the performance of the Canadian business sector in improving labour and multifactor productivity and examines possible factors underlying recent developments. The article links weak multifactor productivity growth in the Canadian business sector to the weak innovation performance of Canadian firms. The conclusion to this article describes a research program that Industry Canada, in conjunction with others, is carrying out. The research program seeks to identify the reasons for Canada's poor innovation and productivity performance, in order to shed light on actions that can be undertaken to improve productivity growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]