Challenges of the "omics" future and pathology informatics systems: are we--pathologists, clinicians, and consumers--ready?

The health care system is extremely complex and it is currently undergoing a massive transformation with rapid advances in technology. Pathology services have been leading the technology adaptation process and will continue to evolve rapidly with the introduction of "omics" technology. Future pathology informatics systems (PIS) will need to meet the needs of pathologists, clinicians, organizations, community services as well as the expectations of patients, especially given the complexity of "omics" technology. Technology advances, however, often progress at a pace faster than socio-cultural adaptation. A major question therefore arises, "Are we ready?" This article explores the socio-cultural-technical issues and provides a conceptual framework for future discussion about socio-cultural integration in the use of technology to provide a seamless delivery of patient-centered care. It discusses system requirements of future PIS in the context of rapid evolution of medical care. Finally, this article proposes some strategies for the design and implementation of future PIS to achieve socio-cultural-technical harmony in the "omics" era.