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The Congenital Cardiology Cloud: Proof of feasibility of Germany's first tele-medical network for pediatric cardiology.
- Source :
-
Journal of telemedicine and telecare [J Telemed Telecare] 2024 Dec; Vol. 30 (10), pp. 1573-1580. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Mar 20. - Publication Year :
- 2024
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Abstract
- Background: For an optimal interplay based on the data-secure exchange of diagnostic data between patients, ambulatory care, and hospital care, we implemented the first tele-medical network for pediatric cardiology in Germany, the Congenital Cardiology Cloud. This study focuses on its feasibility, technical characteristics, and implementation in routine clinical work.<br />Methods: Tele-medical traffic comprised numbers of incoming/outgoing data, related file types, treatment options for tele-medically processed patients, and patient classification with respect to the severity of disease. Proof of feasibility was related to the number of successful tele-medical transmissions of discharge documents at the end of the observation period (02/2020-10/2020).<br />Results: Analysis of Congenital Cardiology Cloud's data communication showed a number of 1178 files for a total of 349 patients, favoring transmissions towards the clinic. Incoming traffic was predominantly characterized by diagnostic data regarding tele-consultations (76.6%), consisting of a multitude of file types, whereas 93.4% of the dispatched data corresponded to discharge letters. The number of tele-consultations counted up to 61, with a necessary subsequent treatment or diagnostic procedure in 90.2% of the presented cases. Tele-medically processed patients generally showed to be more complex (severe chronic heart disease 42.4% vs. 23.7%). At the end of the observation period, 97.6% of the discharge documents were transmitted via telemedicine.<br />Discussion: The implementation of the first tele-medical network for pediatric cardiology in Germany proves recent technological developments to successfully enable innovative patient care, connecting the ambulatory and hospital sector for a joint patient advice, predominantly in more complex cases. Possible governmentally guided refinancing concepts will show its long-term feasibility.<br />Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1758-1109
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of telemedicine and telecare
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36938629
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X231158838