Workflow organization in pathology.

New technologies, analytic techniques, and computer-assisted diagnosis algorithms will change the way pathologists and clinicians interact with and use clinical data. Simultaneously, the artisanal nature of the culture and clinical practice of medicine have made them resistant to change. An understanding of workflow science will help pathologists prepare for the changes that lie ahead in anatomic and clinical pathology, better care for patients, and make better and more respectful use of existing human and other resources. This article provides a primer on workflow science, including historical perspective, review of current literature, and extrapolation of future trends.