bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surface Topography Measurements of Back Asymmetry in Relation to Scoliosis Surgery
Authors: Griffiths C.J.  , Tweedie R.J.  , FitzGerald J.E.  , Gibson M.  , Leonard M.A.
Published: February 2025

Surface topography may provide an alternative to regular radiographic imaging in the assessment spinal curvatures. We have already shown that the Quantec system gives reproducible results in individuals for curve measurements and we now seek to compare overall back shape before and after spinal surgery. Any change in left-right symmetry is analysed using a quadrangular system based on the spinous process of the first thoracic vertebra (T1), the posterior superior iliac spines (S1, S2), and percentage distances along the T1-acromion lines, and along a line through S1-S2. The technique places a “grid” on the back using these anatomical landmarks. This divides the back into small areas both to the left and to the right of the line from T1 to mid S1-S2 such that each area on the left has an equivalent area on the right. These data are analysed in two ways: 1) Taking equivalent left right pairs in turn, the difference in protrusion is found (in mm), squared (to avoid cancelation of positive and negative values in the next step), and then summed for all pairs. The result is normalized to remove the effect of the patient's size; 2) The left and right heights of pairs are used as coordinates on an x-y plot. If the back is symmetrical, the points should lie on the line of identity. Excursion along the line will increase with increasing kyphosis or lordosis. Asymmetry will produce points off the line of identity. The correlation coefficient for the set of points will be 1 for perfect symmetry, and decrease as symmetry is lost. The results will be discussed in relation to alleged correction of rib deformity in scoliosis surgery.
Results of Conservative Treatment of Scoliosis with the Dynamic Three-Dimensional F.E.D. System
Authors: Sastre S.  , Santapau C.  , Trallero A.  , Grasa M.
Published: February 2025

This report concerns the results of 50 scoliotic patients treated exclusively with the F.E.D. method during the period of growth . The age of the patients ranged between 6 and 20 yrs. All had structural curves with a Cobb angle between 10° and 61° and vertebral rotation between 3° and 24° (Raimondi). At the end of the treatment the degree of the curve and vertebral rotation showed in some cases important improvement and in other casescomplete reduction. The results of treatment with the F.E.D. method were much superiothan reported results of conservative treatment of scoliosis with other methods.
Standards for Classification Builders According to CEN/TC 251/WG 2
Authors: Mennerat François
Published: February 2025

It was only with the introduction of telematics in healthcare that an urgent need was revealed for organised standardisation activities and for a common use of standards in healthcare informatics.
Development Of A Presentation Tool For Nursing Data
Authors: Sermeus Walter  , DELESIE Luc
Published: February 2025

It is a very long process to go from describing nursing care in a standardised way, over data collection, over data analysis and presentation to the final goal of starting to use this information for describing, comparing, interpreting, discussing and finally and hopefully deciding. In this paper, the focus is on the description of six presentation tools for nursing data, developed in the Nursing Minimum Data Set project in Belgium since the start in 1985.
Possibilities for Peacekeeping: The Role of Telemedicine in International Initiatives
Authors: Xenakis Stephen N.  , Blakeslee Betsey S.  , Horner Jack A.
Published: February 2025

The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U. S. Government.
3-D Surface Reconstruction of Patient Specific Anatomic Data Using a Pre-Specified Number of Polygons
Authors: Aharon S.  , Robb R.A.
Published: February 2025

Virtual reality environments provide highly interactive, natural control of the visualization process, significantly enhancing the scientific value of the data produced by medical imaging systems. Due to the computational and real time display update requirements of virtual reality interfaces, however, the complexity of organ and tissue surfaces which can be displayed is limited. In this paper, we present a new algorithm for the production of a polygonal surface containing a pre-specified number of polygons from patient or subject specific volumetric image data. The advantage of this new algorithm is that it effectively tiles complex structures with a specified number of polygons selected to optimize the trade-off between surface detail and real-time display rates.
Validation of Adaptive Bone-Remodeling Simulation Models
Authors: Huiskes Rik
Published: February 2025

Using computer models based on Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Wolff's paradigm of mechanically-controlled adaptive bone remodeling can be simulated. These simulation models use empirical mathematical rules that describe the assumed relationships between local bone loads and bone mass. These models are particularly valuable for preclinical testing of orthopaedic implants, relative to their bone-maintaining capacities. In this Chapter the question of validity of these models for these purposes is considered. Furthermore, an overview is presented of validation studies that were performed by the research group of the author.
Health Informatics and Education - Light beneath The North Star
Authors: Pakarinen V.  , Taskinen J.  , Antti-Poika M.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the Finnish situation concerning health care informatics and telematics and the planned strategy for university level education program in social and health care information technology. As a response to the global discussion of the Information Society, The Finnish Government set up a the national Committee for the Information Society in Health and Social Care Services to develop a strategy to take advantage of this challenging and promising technology. The Committee published its report in April 1996 and one of the central guidelines in the strategy was to promote information technology know-how, research and education. According to these needs, The Institute for Extension Studies of Tampere University considers plans to set up a two year based Education Program of Health Care Informatics and Telematics starting 1997.
Telemedicine in Portugal
Authors: Ribeiro João Vasco  , Geirinhas Pedro Miguel
Published: February 2025

The Institute of Informatic and Financial Management of Health (IGIF) has a Central Department in Lisbon and regional departments in Oporto (north region) and Coimbra (centre region). IGIF is a public (governmental) institute with a financial and informatic for health care departments. The informatic department one of the main responsibility is introducing, co-ordinating, supporting, advising and promoting the informatics and technology information in Healthcare Systems.
IT EDUCTRA Information Technologies Education and Training
Authors: Gaitán Pacheco Ricardo
Published: February 2025

This paper gives a brief overview of the project IT EDUCTRA which stands for \underbar{I}NFORMATION \underbar{T}ECHNOLOGIES \underline{EDU}CATION AND \underline{TRA}INING. This project is within the Telematics for Healthcare work sector of the Telematics Applications Programme (1994-1998), and inside the 4th R&D Framework Programme. Based on previous initiatives and experiences, such as DELTA, AIM, and ERASMUS programmes, this project aims at improving the education and training opportunities in healthcare informatics, by employing trainers with relevant background and by providing demonstration and diffusion of adequate multimedia materials across Europe.
The Web Server of the NIGHTINGALE Project
Authors: Dounavis Peter  , Mantas John
Published: February 2025

The Web Site of the NIGHTINGALE Project is one of the Deliverables of the NIGHTINGALE Project. This document provides, a detailed description of the NIGHTINGALE WWW site including the information content and the technical specifications.
Courses and Examination in a Distance Learning Curriculum in Health Informatics
Authors: Nøhr Christian  , Bygholm Ann  , Hejlesen Ole
Published: February 2025

Computer mediated learning put new demands on the organisation of the learning process, the teaching methods and the test and examination procedures. In the various educational programmes at Aalborg University employing computer mediated learning we have experimented with these issues. In the programme for health informatics a remote testing of the learning effect during the courses has been experimented. In the following the programme for health informatics will be presented, and the experiments will be described and discussed.
Security of Healthcare Information Systems Based on the CORBA Middleware
Authors: Blobel Bernd  , Holena Martin
Published: February 2025

The development of healthcare systems in accordance to the “Shared Care” paradigm results in co-operative health information systems across the boundaries of organisational, technological, and policy domains. Increasingly, these distributed and heterogeneous systems are based on middleware approaches, such as CORBA. Regarding the sensitivity of personal and medical data, such open, distributed, and heterogeneous health information systems demand a high level of data protection and data security, both with respect to patient information and with respect to users. The security concepts and measures available and additionally needed in health information systems based on CORBA architecture are described in this paper. The proposed security solution is also open to other middleware approaches, such as DHE or HL7.
Supercomputing in Cancer Research
Authors: Böhm Kurt
Published: February 2025

Human Genome Analysis and Image Processing are part of the ‘Grand Challenges’ in High Performance Computing. The traditional mainframe has become insufficient for these applications in Biocomputing. Scalable parallel processor systems have entered the marketplace with superior price/performance. The evaluation process of such a system by an application-oriented benchmark test suite is described. Meanwhile a large system is integrated in the client/server structure of the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum where the traditional mainframe is completely replaced by scalable systems.
ORGANISING HEALTH SYSTEMS FOR BETTER CARE AND PERFORMANCE BY OPEN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Authors: van der Werff Albert
Published: February 2025

In this document the application of open information technology to assist in reforming healthcare systems of countries is being discussed. Present technologies demonstrated by HANSA in Western and Eastern Europe enable the integration of electronic patient records in existing systems, provide for flexibility and support the interoperability of different applications. However, computers and IT must not drive the required process of change. This is the responsibility of top management.
TELENURSE -Nursing Classifications, Quality Indicators and the Electronic Nursing Record
Authors: Jorgensen Hendrik D.  , Nielsen Tommy M.
Published: February 2025

In the area of nursing, national and international clinical databases are practically non-existing. The lack of common nomenclatures and classifications is the main reason for this situation. This article elaborates on the TELENURSE project’s two objectives which focus on improving that situation. The first objective concerns the “The $\underbar(I)$nternational $\underbar(C)$lassification for $\underbar(N)$ursing $\underbar(P)$ractice” (ICNP) and methods for implementation of ICNP electronically in nursing modules of electronic patient records. The second objective concerns the development of a clinical nursing database in which clinical data collected from electronic nursing systems can be stored. On the basis of this data storage, nursing indicators can be developed, which in the long term allows for comparison of nursing interventions across Europe.
FOIN : a Nominative Information Occultation Function
Authors: Trouessin Gilles  , Allaert François-André
Published: February 2025

This article is intended to show that a great amount of work has to (and will) be done in terms of security for the healthcare information system community. Some very promising results have already been obtained in France, especially at CNAMTS, for providing the required security and privacy of nominative information in the context of futur electronic exchanges between private/public hospital and CNAMTS, the french biggest mandatory healthcare insurance. FOIN, a robust anonymisation function, is just an example of such recent progress that traduces the french national engagement towards more flexible interconnection between various authorised healthcare information systems in close conjunction with more and more reliable and secure procedural and technical requirements. Firstly, the legal and medical needs for so strong anonymisation functions are described; secondly, the most important security requirements of these sensible functions are detailed and, lastly, the main security and implementation features of FOIN are globally indicated.
Pre-hospital Health Emergency Management as an Integrated Service of the Regional Health Telematics Network of Crete
Authors: Leisch Erich  , Tsiknakis Manolis  , Orphanoudakis Stelios C.
Published: February 2025

In this paper, a Pre-hospital Health Emergency Management System (PHEMS) is presented, which is being developed on the basis of a common reference architecture that has been defined at a European level by partners from ten EU member states in the course of the ongoing HECTOR project. The PHEMS, which is implemented as an autonomous system, will be integrated as an addedvalue service into the Regional Health Telematics Network of Crete. The PHEMS architecture is based on a ‘perception-cognition-action’ paradigm.
Is Neural Network Better than Statistical Methods in Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis?
Authors: Pesonen Erkki
Published: February 2025

Three statistical classification methods: discriminant analysis, logistic regression analysis and cluster analysis were compared with the backpropagation neural network algorithm in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The differences in the classification accuracy, which were evaluated with the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were small, though discriminant analysis and back-propagation showed slightly better results than the other methods. The agreement of the methods on the diagnosis increased the accuracy of the classification, so that the number of misclassified cases reduced. The back-propagation neural network offers a good choice for statistical classification methods, but it was not found to be better than them. The use of several methods and their agreement as the basis of the diagnosis seems to give the best results for this diagnostic classification problem.
W.W.W. Cooperative Multimedia Interface in Medicine
Authors: Courtin C.  , Séka L.-P.  , Cléran L.  , Le Beux P.
Published: February 2025

The World Wide Web is now the most used multimedia information system on Internet allowing, by means of Web browsers such as Netscape Navigator or Mosaic, distribution or consultation of hypermedia documents. Although the Web has appeared only recently, the growth of its use has generated the emergence of numerous information and knowledge bases in the medical field. We suggest to investigate extended functionalities in order to introduce cooperative activities in our medical information system. These new activities allow asynchronous exchange of records and synchronous cooperation for a better coordination of the work within and between hospitals.
ADM-INDEX: An automated system for indexing and retrieval of medical texts
Authors: Seka L.-P.  , Courtin C.  , Le Beux P.
Published: February 2025

ADM-INDEX is a system for indexing and retrieval of Patients Discharge Summaries (PDSs) by using linguistic methods (morphologic, syntaxic and semantic processing). The ADM-INDEX knowledge base is a restructuring of a diagnostic aid knowledge base (ADM) in order to allow the linguistic analysis of medical texts. The ADM system is a comprehensive medical knowledge base which has been developped since 1972 at the University Hospital of Rennes and which has been the first professional videotex medical diagnostic aid in France. After linguistic analysis, ADM-INDEX build the index table with thesaurus wording, medical words, concepts and phrases, unknown words contained in each PDS. The benefit of using those different elements is to improve information retrieval. Although our system is constructed with the ADM dictionary, it can be easily applied to other medical nomenclature or thesaurus. In this paper, we present on the one hand the ADMINDEX knowledge base which is constituted by rules, a dictionary and a thesaurus, and on the other hand, the process of indexing and retrieval information.
Using the GRAIL Language for Classification Management
Authors: Zanstra P.E.  , Flier F.  , Rogers J.E.  , Solomon W.D.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a novel approach in classification management where a formal model of medical semantics is being used for manipulations on existing classification systems. The paper addresses the issue of semi-automatically making specialist classifications that are compatible with the source classification. The examples in this paper are from a limited domain. At the time of the presentation results will be shown of the present modelling work within the GALEN-In-Use project. The model will then contain several thousands of medical procedures from four different classification centres.
A platform independent Teleradiology system based on Web services
Authors: Abrardo Andrea  , Mercinelli Marco
Published: February 2025

This paper describes NetRad, a Teleradiology application based on an open, non-proprietary architecture implemented using only Web and Java technologies. A comparison with other proprietary teleradiology systems suggests that the proposed solution is attractive, being completely independent of the hardware and software platform. This architecture allows easy maintenance and fast development of new distributed capabilities. Finally, it is based on a user interface paradigm widely known and accepted all over the World.
Application of Telematics for Improving Multiple Schedules
Authors: Oldenkamp Johan H.  , Heesen Constantijn  , Simons John L.
Published: February 2025

Nurse scheduling is an important, but also a very complicated management task. Performing this task results in a nursing schedule. These nursing schedules strongly influence the performance of a nursing ward. This paper describes research results on the application of several knowledge acquisition techniques for the development of a decision support system. This system informs the nurse scheduler about the quality of an arranged schedule. This paper next shows how this system can be used to improve multiple schedules in combination with the application of telematics. This improvement is based on the communication between schedulers who have a shortage or a surplus of nurses at certain days of the schedule. By means of internal reallocation of nurses for a short period of time, the total schedule quality of all nursing schedules can be improved.
European Citizens Advisory Systems based on Telematics for Communication and Health
Authors: Maas Jörg F.
Published: February 2025

The objective of Citizens Advisory Systems for Health in Europe is to provide background information in preventive health care, to offer data-based and knowledge-based facilities and to reduce costs within the national and European wide health systems. In order to do so, easily accessible human-computerdialogues and systems have to or have been already developed, allowing every citizen to obtain the right information at the right place at any time with any intensity which is wished. The paper will describe the already existing standards, will explain the ideal type and the technical and social implications which have to be taken into consideration for these systems.
Designing medical hypermedia: the FORUM project
Authors: Soula G.  , Delquié P.  , Vitton O.  , Bartoli J.M.  , Fieschi M.
Published: February 2025

Medical activity in learning stages or in usual tasks is a wide field for information technologies. But it would be a mistake to focus on technologies and minimize the organisational, social and cultural aspects of integrating such technologies. Medical hypermedia design based only on a technological approach is a case in point. This paper describes our experience in hypermedia development. It reports on the technical, methodological and organizational aspects destined to help the medical community get involved in the development of such applications.
Educational Program on Neurosurgery
Authors: Bernad Elena Silvia  , Frantescu Adrian  , Dobrea Adrian  , Bernad Sandor Ianos
Published: February 2025

The paper presents the application of a hypertext and an Electronic Patient Record to assist the pathology of the eye’s motility teaching. It is a combination of a theoretical and practical training in this kind of pathology. The application is being tested at the County Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery from Timisoara, Romania.
A Systematic Approach to the Assessment of User Satisfaction with Health Care Systems: Constructs, Models and Instruments
Authors: Ohmann C.  , Boy O.  , Yang Q.
Published: February 2025

In this paper an overview is given about research in the field of user satisfaction with health care systems and a new systematic model is set up. The model distinguishes between system-independent and system-dependent factors, the latter characterised by satisfaction with the content, the interface and the organisation. Evaluated instruments for assessing user satisfaction are classified according to the model and recommendation for an appropriate use are given.
Virtual Reality as Assessment Tool in Psychology
Authors: Riva Giuseppe
Published: February 2025

Virtual environments (VEs), offering a new human-computer interaction paradigm, have attracted much attention in clinical psychology, especially in the treatment of phobias. However, a possible new application of VR in psychology is as assessment tool: YEs can be considered as an highly sophisticated form of adaptive testing. This chapter describes the context of current psychological assessment and underlines possible advantages of a VR based assessment tool.
Towards a Component Driven Infrastructure for Integrated Healthcare Systems
Authors: Van de Velde R.
Published: February 2025

A high level summarised description of the distributed clinical information system implemented in the hospital of the free university of Brussels (AZ-VUB) is described. It evolves towards a component based clinical distributed system that consists of a set of co-operating middelware software components running on a number of computers connected by a network that will foster the integration of applications, data servers and other resources in the medical field. This system is implemented in the University Hospital of Brussels (AZ-VUB) a full-service 800-bed university hospital that provides care for 23000 inpatients, supports over 300000 outpatient visits and receives 32000 emergency patients a year.
A Federated Schema-Based Middleware Architecture for Hospital Information Systems
Authors: Hasselbring Wilhelm
Published: February 2025

An important concern in distributed hospital information systems is the integration of information across heterogeneous subsystems. Consistent data replication is a central problem to be solved in this domain. The specific requirements and problems for integration of information within hospitals are discussed and a middleware architecture which has been designed according to these requirements is presented.
Evaluating Standardized Coding and Classification Systems for Clinical Practice: A Critical Review of the Nursing Literature in the United States
Authors: Henry S.B.  , Mead C.N.
Published: February 2025

Developers of healthcare information systems are challenged by the difficulty of meeting the simultaneous goals of 1) capturing and electronically representing the broad array of data related to healthcare with sufficient expressibility to provide adequate documentation of the patient encounter, and 2) utilizing standardized coding and classification systems to facilitate linkages among computer-based systems. The evaluation studies to date have primarily focused on matching actual clinical data with terms in the recognized classification systems. These studies have provided evidence that the classification systems are relatively domain complete for categorizing patient problems and nursing interventions. Although several of the published criteria for evaluation relate to structure, it is noteworthy that this has not yet been a major focus of study in nursing. There are several areas of critical need that must be addressed. First, additional work is needed to develop and refine a standardized set of atomic-level terms relevant to nursing, including those for assessments, problems, and activities. Second, knowledge representations must be developed to support the building of complex concepts from atomic-level data.
Nursing Information in Electronic Patient Records: Criteria established in a Delphi study
Authors: Goossen W.T.F.  , Epping P.J.M.M.  , Dassen T.W.N.
Published: February 2025

Nursing lacks an adequate tool to assist in determining the essential components of an information policy in health care institutions, and to outline the nursing component of the electronic patient record. The objective of this study was to determine the criteria to which a nursing information system, and its developmental process, should comply with, when such system is part of an electronic patient record system. Using the Delphi methodology, criteria for nursing information systems were determined by an international panel of 36 experts in three succeeding rounds. Most criteria gained consensus and are very useful for use in practice for those involved in nursing system development. Eventually the list of criteria will be included in a nursing information reference model. Nursing will benefit from the application of the reference instrument and criteria to express their information needs and to develop adequate information technology.
Benefits Realisation in Maternity Information Systems
Authors: Betts H.J.  , Gunn-Russell R.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes the compilation of a monograph on benefits realisation of maternity information systems from maternity services around England and Wales. It was compiled to compliment a monograph produced in June 1995 on Nursing Information Systems. The paper summarises the structure of the monograph and outlines the concept of benefits realisation. The examples featured in the monograph are not “true” benefits realisation studies and many of the accounts are anecdotal in nature. However, the paper suggests that midwives do benefit from using a maternity information system particularly in the areas of auditing practice, effortless retrieval of statistics, less duplication of data entry, summaries of care and research purposes. Managers also benefits from some of these functions and those relating to estimating workload and allocation of resources. It is suggested that any benefits for staff and management should also benefit clients and improve the provision of the maternity services.
Decision Support for Assessing Patient Preferences for Geriatric Care
Authors: Ruland C.M.  , Kresevic D.  , Brennan P.F.  , Lorensen M.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a pilot study that tested the strategy and feasibility of a decision support system (DSS) that assists nurses in integrating patients' preferences for self-care functions in the assessment of elderly patients. 12 elderly clients and a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) participated in this study. The CNS reported the assessment strategy to be very helpful to learn about patients' strengths and weaknesses in self-care functioning. Clients reported that being asked about their preferences helped them clarify their goals, and created a shared understanding between nurse and patient. This pilot study also suggests that patients have a clear understanding of their predominant problems and can discriminate between their preferences. It further supports previous literature that there is a substantial difference in values patients place on clinical outcomes. This highlights the importance of an individual approach to patient care and the usefulness of DSS to assist nurses in eliciting patient preferences..
Implementation of Standardized Nursing Languages (NIC, NOC) in On-line Care Planning and Documentation
Authors: Prophet C.M.  , Dorr G.G.  , Gibbs T.D.  , Porcella A.A.
Published: February 2025

At the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC), the Standardized Nursing Languages (SNLs) of Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) and Nursing-sensitive Outcomes Classification (NOC) are being implemented in on-line care planning and documentation. NIC and NOC are being integrated in the INFORMM NIS (Information Network For Retrieval & Medical Management Nursing Information System). The implementation process for SNLs includes six components: objectives, programming, database content, education, utilization, and evaluation. This process has been used successfully in NIC implementation and will be applied in NOC field testing.
Computerized Interviewing to Enhance Decision Making of Nurse Practitioner Students
Authors: Meehan N.K.
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of computerized medical history software for enhancing the decision making skills of graduate nurse practitioner students. Computer interviewing software may be used to teach students the skills necessary to analyze patterns of client answers for determining follow-up questions. Using the same initial complaints, comparisons will be made between the interview conducted using the computerized interview software, Instant Medical History, and the nurse practitioner student's interview. Students will then be able to determine critical information that they might have missed following the initial assessment of the client.
A Small Intranet for Teaching how to Use the Internet
Authors: Yamanouchi K.  , Nakano M.  , Nojiri M.
Published: February 2025

We set up a small Internet in our classroom. It was easy to make this system. We taught students the mechanism and how to use services of the Internet in this system. We found that this local network was useful for teaching how to apply both mailing service and the World Wide Web.
Design & Implementation of an Automated Questionnaire
Authors: Carr R.L.  , Snow C.D.  , Youngson R.A.J.
Published: February 2025

This paper describes a system which allows the patient to answer a structured questionnaire in private, at their own speed and without pressure using a touch-screen personal computer. A clinical report is generated immediately and used to help guide a clinician in a face to face consultation with the patient. Trials in a clinical setting have shown a positive response by both patients and clinicians.
Patient Outcomes and Nurses' Classification Data
Authors: Halloran E.J.  , Welton J.M.  , Englebardt S.P.  , Thorson M.W.
Published: February 2025

The patient classifications done by nurses for all adult patients (n=15,500) discharged from an urban teaching hospital in one year were retrieved and analyzed by discharge status. Classification results were summarized by physical functional, psychological-social, and dependence categories and were associated with discharge disposition; patients discharged home were less dependent than others discharged to nursing homes or those who died in the hospital. Diagnosis related group (DRG) payment weights were somewhat independent of the patient classification scores and were not associated with adverse outcomes.
Transgenerational Design of “Smart Products”, a Checklist of Guidelines
Authors: Freudenthal A.
Published: February 2025

Elderly users have been observed using their own appliances and consumer electronics in their homes. From this, design guidelines have been derived, focussing on the durables as well as their manuals. The guidelines consist of recommendations for design methods, requirements for manuals and product requirements, mainly concerning usability.
The German Medical Identity Card From the Physicians' Identity Paper to an Electronic Security Tool (Health Professional Card)
Authors: Wenzlaff P.
Published: February 2025

The rapid development of electronic communication in the health care sector requires the implementation of an appropriate security infrastructure. This security is not only necessary for the patients, but for the health professionals too. One important security tool in all concepts is the so called Health Professional Card. The German professional organisations of the physicians try to introduce a standardised professional card for their members. The present physicians' identity paper shall be transformed to an electronic identity document. To get a high grade of standardisation and interoperability all activities are done in close co-operation with national and international working groups.
The Southern Oklahoma Physician Hospital Organization (SOPHO) Smart Card System
Authors: Kavanaugh C.
Published: February 2025

Mercy Memorial Health Center of Ardmore and a large group of southern Oklahoma physicians have formed the Southern Oklahoma Physician Hospital Organization (SOPHO) and are currently implementing a smart card system developed by Health Card Technologies, Inc, for sharing patient data throughout the healthcare community. Developers anticipate that the system will ultimately have total community participation and that Ardmore will be both a testbed for new medical applications of smart card technology and a place where its value can be demonstrated for many years to come.
Assessing a VR-based Learning Environment for Anatomy Education
Authors: Hoffman Helene  , Murray Margaret  , Hettinger Larry  , Viirre Erik
Published: February 2025

The purpose of the research proposed herein is to develop an empirical, methodological tool for the assessment of visual depth perception in virtual environments (VEs). Our goal is to develop and employ a behaviorally-based method for assessing the impact of VE design features on the perception of visual depth as indexed by the performance of fundamental perceptual-motor activities. Specifically, in this experiment we will assess the affect of two dimensions of VE system design - (1) viewing condition or “level of immersion”, and (2) layout/design of the VE - on the performance of an engaging, game-like task. The characteristics of the task to be employed are as follows - (1) it places no demands on cognition in the form of problem solving, retrieval of previously learned information, or other analytic activity in order to assure that (2) variations in task performance can be exclusively attributed to the extent to which the experimental factors influence visual depth perception. Subjects’ performance will be assessed in terms of the speed and accuracy of task performance, as well as underlying dimensions of performance such as workload, fatigue, and physiological well being (i.e., cybersickness). The results of this experiment will provide important information on the effect of VE immersion and other VE design issues on human perception and performance. Further development, refinement, and validation of this behaviorally-based methodology will be pursued to provide user-centered design criteria for the design and use of VE systems.
TRANS-TELEPHONIC ELECTRO-CARDIOGRAPHIC MONITORING (TTEM) - FIRST INDIAN EXPERIENCE
Authors: Rissam H.S.  , Kishore S.  , Bhatia M.L.  , Trehan N.
Published: February 2025

Trans-Telephonic Electro-Cardiographic Monitoring (TTEM) centre, is an easy to use tool,now freely available in India. Between May 1996 and May 1997, 398 patients were registered at Escorts Heart Alert Centre (EHAC) for TTEM; 321 (81%) males and 77(19%) females. Age range was from 1 month to 95 years. 65% patients were from New Delhi ; 35% from other cities in India and abroad. Patients' clinical profile were post-CABG, post-PTCA, post-MI, patients after discharge; evaluation of chest pain, palpitation, chronic angina, arrhythmias, and pace-maker follow up. Out of 664 symptomatic transmisions, 510 (77%) were for cardiac symptoms like chest pain 309 (61%); palpitation 90 (18%) ; uneasiness 61(12%); dizziness 28(5%) breathlessness 22(4%). 154(23%) were for non-cardic symptoms like stitch pain and backache (51); Atypical chest pain (39); weakness and fever (45) and sweating (19). 84%, 78% and 75% patients of chest pain, palpitation and dizziness respectively transmitted their ECGs within one hour of the onset of the symptoms. Out of 664 symptomatic transmissions, 531 required either re-assurance or drug-dose adjustment on telephone. 97 were called to OPD on elective basis. 36 patients were advised immediate hospitalization, for acute management. TTEM was useful in avoiding 628 unnecessary visits to the hospital whereas 36 patients, were immediately hospitalized , for receiving acute life-saving interventions.
Internet-based Telemedicine: A Practical Tool?
Authors: Angood Peter B.
Published: February 2025

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has recently defined telemedicine as “the use of electronic information and communications technologies to provide and support health care when distance separates the participants.” The technology used to perform telemedicine can range from a simple telephone or fax, to satellite-based relay transfers, to state of the art computer and video-conferencing equipment. In general, despite a recent national and international growth in interest for telemedicine, obstacles to its widespread use persist. The expectation, however, is that telemedicine will continue to grow and flourish as the technology options are brought to the consumer market by industry. To date, the focus has been on how to bring television quality interactions to the health care providers and their patients. As the electronic age continues to progress at a logarithmic rate, however, the dominant format of successful electronic communication technology is currently the desktop computer networked through the Internet. This dominance is showing no industry or economic signs of slowdown and, therefore, telemedicine program efforts should begin to focus on the ability to communicate through this medium because of the easy access, lower costs and ease for technology upgrades. To date, only a few programs have documented experience with Internet-based telemedicine technology.
NIGHTINGALE - A new Perspective in Nursing Informatics Education in Europe
Authors: Mantas John
Published: February 2025

The NIGHTINGALE project, which is an EU financed project, is considered as essential in planning and implementation of strategy in training the nursing profession in using and applying healthcare information systems. Therefore, NIGHTINGALE gives a new perspective in Nursing Informatics Education in Europe. In 1997 some major goals of the NIGHTINGALE project were accomplished. These achievements are described in this document
Hyperlinked Lexicon in Nursing Informatics - A Tool for Navigating through Nursing Informatics Terminology
Authors: Karistinou Emily  , Dounavis Peter  , Mantas John
Published: February 2025

The Evolution of Information Technology is rapid. Electronic circuits substitute mental activities and new Technology invades to all aspects of life. Nursing, which is like all the other Health related professions information-intensive, could use the new Technology to be facilitated. The implementation of Informatics to Nursing was supported by the growing information that Nursing has to manage. The definition of Nursing Informatics was put on 1980 and since then a lot attempts to define Nursing Informatics have followed. The applications of Nursing Informatics are focused on four fields of Nursing: Administration of Nursing, Clinical Practice, Education, and Research. The first applications of Nursing Informatics made visible the need for the development of a Unified Language System. The efforts, today, are focused on two fields:
The Development of a Course on Nursing Informatics at Post Registration Level
Authors: Collins Rita
Published: February 2025

Within this paper the development of a course on Nursing Informatics is presented. The curriculum development process as applied to the course is explained, the structure of the course is outlined and the orientation of the content is presented.
Femoral Anteversion: Estimation by 3D Modelling
Authors: Kim June S.  , Choi Kui W.  , Kim Sun I.
Published: February 2025

Femoral anteversion is the inclination of the femoral neck axis with reference to the tangent plane of the distal femur. For estimating femoral anteversion, following three major parameters are required; the neck axis, the long axis, the knee axis. Conventional methods on the basis of 2D images are ambiguous to determine these major axes. As the femur has a complex 3 dimensional structure, the 3 dimensional model should be applied for accurate and reliable measurement of femoral anteversion. In this paper, we model femur and define three parameters. The neck axis is defmed from the femoral head and neck model. The long axis is determined from the cylindrical model of the femoral shaft. The knee axis is also determined from the model of femoral condyles. According to the definition of the femoral anteversion, the femoral anteversion is efficiently estimated from these models. 30 specimens were tested by conventional 2D imaging method, 3D imaging method which was developed by authors and the new 3D modelling method. The study provides accurate, fast and human factor free measurement for femoral anteversion.
The Federated Healthcare Record to Support Shared Diabetes Care
Authors: Weier Onno  , Kalshoven Martin  , van der Kolk Hans  , Leguit Freerk  , Ros Maurits  , Toussaint Pieter
Published: February 2025

In this paper the conception of the federated healthcare record server to support shared diabetes care is described. Business process modelling is applied to describe the shared care for diabetes patients. Typical dialogues between the different users (patient, internist, GPs, and diabetic nurses) are analysed and described in terms of use cases. Next to this modelling three incremental steps are defined to realise the record server based upon results of standardisation. It proves to be successful to design and build this record server on modern technologies like CORBA and JAVA.
Extending a Teleradiology System by Tools for 3D-Visualization and Volumetric Analysis Through a Plug-in Mechanism
Authors: Evers Harald  , Mayer Achim  , Engelmann U.  , Schröter Andre  , Baur Ulrike  , Wolsiffer Kerstin  , Meinzer Hans-Peter
Published: February 2025

This paper describes ongoing research concerning interactive volume visualization coupled with tools for volumetric analysis. To establish an easy to use application, the 3D-visualization has been embedded in a state of the art teleradiology system, where additional functionality is often desired beyond basic image transfer and management. Major clinical requirements for deriving spatial measures are covered by the tools, in order to realize extended diagnosis support and therapy planning. Introducing the general plug-in mechanism this work exemplarily describes the useful extension of an approved application.
Modeling and Performance Analysis of Image Transfer in PACS
Authors: Kimura Hirohito  , Akatsuka Takao
Published: February 2025

Performance simulation plays an important role in the design of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS). This paper presents simulation models of a PACS in a context of outpatient clinical workflow. Models, which are discussed focusing on shared facilities and resources of the system, consist of two levels. One is the workflow level and the other is the physical level. Patients, medical staffs and images are picked up as the important system resources in the workflow level. A network, hard disks and network interface buffers of PACS components are mainly described in the physical level. Models are described with Petri Nets in both levels. Two examples of performance evaluation are also presented Both of them estimate transfer time of computed radiology images for outpatient consultation. In the first example, both the data transfer rate of hard disks and network speed are varied under fixed system loads. While in the second example, system loads are varied against given system components. From the simulation results, following points are summarized. If physicians want to get a set of images in 5 seconds, both high performance hard disks or disk arrays and high speed network such as 100Mbps networks are required. And it is effective for high speed network to be used in the acquisition phase. If we have to use the Ethernet and ordinary workstations, the PACS should be used in a single clinic. In conclusion this modeling method makes models simple and is quite useful for the performance evaluation of PACS in the early design phase.
Three-Tiered Integration of PACS and HIS toward Next Generation Total Hospital Information System
Authors: Kim Jong Hyo  , Lee Dong Hyuk  , Choi Jin Wook  , Cho Han Ik  , Kang Heung Sik  , Yeon Kyoung Mo  , Han Man Chung
Published: February 2025

The Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH) started a project to innovate the hospital information facilities. This project includes installation of high speed hospital network, development of new HIS, OCS (order communication system), RIS and PACS. This project aims at the implementation of the first total hospital information system by seamlessly integrating these systems together. To achieve this goal, we took three-tiered systems integration approach: network level, database level, and workstation level integration.
A Mobile System for Recording Examination Data of the Analysis of Functional Disorders of the Masticatory System
Authors: Kirste Thomas  , Lange Matthias
Published: February 2025

Simplifying and streamlining data access and recording tasks in medical settings is an important and successful application area for mobile computing technology. An interesting research topic in this area are user-interface design concepts that allow for an optimal integration of system operation into working situations where the user is tightly involved in interactions with his physical surroundings.
Access Control and System Audit Based on “Patient-Doctor Relation and Clinical Situation” Model
Authors: Hirose Yasuyuki
Published: February 2025

Both confidentiality of privacy and the data sharing between healthcare practitioners are required in hospital information systems. A new access control method has been designed by the “patient-doctor relation and clinical situation at the point-of-care” model in addition to the traditional “account and password” mechanism. This method can; (1) allow flexible data access in need, (2) afford accurate access audit, (3) suppress inappropriate access.
Establishing the Feasibility of Cross-Mapping Independent Child Health Data Sets as a Means of Comparing Health Status and Service Quality
Authors: Mechtler Reli  , Rigby Michael  , Ritchie William
Published: February 2025

Benefits of comparative data analysis for quality assurance and policy development are clear, but are difficult to establish through traditional means of prospective projects. This paper describes a pilot project to test an alternative method, namely seeking to identify areas of commonality amongst very different pre-existing data sets to provide a starting point.