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Biomedical subjects

R Bolte

Publications and source records attributed to R Bolte.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

[Quality assurance with teleradiology].

Teleradiology offers many applications for quality assurance in medicine. The spectrum reaches from electronic consultations in emergency or special cases and double reading--along with new models of cooperative work and medical networks--to technical quality assurance and integration into interinstitutional and patient controlled health records. Regional teleradiology networks based on server concepts can fulfill the developing technical and organisational requirements. The increasing mobility arising from smaller radiological equipment and improved accessibility to experts with minimized visualisation and reporting systems will change the radiological world of tomorrow, especially in combination with the usage of knowledge based systems in reference data bases and computer assisted diagnosis (CAD). Teleradiology by itself must be liable to quality assurance measurements to prevent unnecessary radiation exposure or danger to the doctor patient relation.

Computer Communication Networks↗

[The future of teleradiology: results of Teleradiology Expert Meeting of the Health Network Congress 2001].

Legal prerequisites have substantial influence on the development of teleradiology. At an expert meeting (Mannheim, 8.6.2001) a proposal for a teleradiology article in the new German x-ray ordinance has been set up. An exception of the demand for a doctor trained in radiation protection at the point of examination shall be established for emergency cases. To realize the intended improvement of patient care measurements for quality assurance concerning the medical personnel and processes are necessary. Along with other current developments the basis of secure regional teleradiology networks is now built up.

Forecasting↗

Teleradiology requirements and aims in Germany and Europe: status at the beginning of 2000.

Specific radiological requirements have to be considered for realization of telemedicine. In this article the goals and requirements for an extensive implementation of teleradiology are defined from the radiological user's point of view. Necessary medical, legal and professional prerequisites for teleradiology are presented. Superior requirements, such as data security and privacy or standardization of communication, must be realized. Application specific requirements, e. g. quality and extent of teleradiological functions as well as technological alternatives, are discussed. Each project must be carefully planned in relation to one's own needs, extent of functions and system selection. Topics like legal acceptance of electronic documentation, reimbursement of teleradiology and liability must be clarified in the future.

Europe↗

[Lymph node imaging with ultra-rapid 3D MR angiography].

PURPOSE: A report on observations of lymph node images obtained by gadolinium-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA). METHODS: Ultrarapid MRA (TR, TE, FA-5 or 6.4 ms, 1.9 or 2.8 ms, 30-40 degrees) with 0.2 mmol/kg BW Gd-DTPA and 20 ml physiological saline. Start after completion of injection. Single series of the pelvis-thigh as well as head-neck regions by use of a phased array coil with a 1.5 T Magnetom Vision or a 1.0 T Magnetom Harmony (Siemens, Erlangen). We report on lymph node imaging in 4 patients, 2 of whom exhibited benign changes and 2 further metastases. In 1 patient with extensive lymph node metastases of a malignant melanoma, color-Doppler sonography as color-flow angiography (CFA) was used as a comparative method. RESULTS: Lymph node imaging by contrast medium-enhanced ultrarapid 3D MRA apparently resulted from their vessels. Thus, arterially-supplied metastases and inflammatory enlarged lymph nodes were well visualized while those with a.v. shunts or poor vascular supply in tumor necroses were poorly imaged. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations are required with regard to the visualization of lymph nodes in other parts of the body as well as a possible differentiation between benign and malignant lesions.

Adult↗

Economic analysis of teleradiology applications with KAMEDIN.

The teleradiology system KAMEDIN (German Telekom), installed on HP-Unix- and NT-Workstations, was evaluated in different scenarios and a cost-benefit-analysis was performed. CT examinations were transferred from a PACS workstation (GE) to KAMEDIN using DICOM-3 protocol. Teleconferences were realized with an intensive care unit by LAN, with a radiology department at 5 km. distance by ISDN, and with an on duty radiologist 22 km. away by ISDN. On average, 36 CT slices per patient were transferred. Overall costs (costs for hardware, software, support, ISDN-fees, and staff) were compared to possible cost reduction, mainly concerning transportation and films. These three scenarios could be realized during daily routine work. Differing in their amount of transportation cost reduction, two applications (intensive care unit, radiologist on duty) showed a break-even at 1817, respectively 528 teleconferences/year. Improvement of cost-effectiveness can be obtained on the conditions that existing hardware will be used and that the automatic data transfer will be improved. Combining all optimisation factors, the break-even decreased to a minimum of 167, respectively 77 teleconferences/year. The optimisation of patient management is an additional--but in this study, not yet counted--advantage of teleradiology.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Teleradiology: results of a questionnaire of German radiologists.

A questionnaire was sent by mail to 4400 radiologists (i.e. to at least 1000 radiological institutions). The response rate was about 5%. The results showed that 47% of respondents felt well informed about teleradiology, 49% not enough and 3% not at all. Image and report transfer as well as interfaces to reference databases, educational applications, technical quality surveillance and product support (maintenance) were considered to be increasingly important areas. Smaller institutions (1-3 doctors) judged expert consultation as more important than bigger institutions. Standardization, system stability and data security were demanded as well as guidelines, for example concerning the linking of report and image, correct documentation and required image quality. Technically most demands can be fulfilled today but this technology is not yet commonly included in teleradiology systems.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

[Possible applications of the KAMEDIN teleradiology system with special reference to an economic analysis].

INTRODUCTION: Different concepts and applications of teleradiology systems have been realised. However, their cost-effectiveness is still questionable. Therefore, a cost-benefit analysis of three different scenarios of the new teleradiology system Kamedin (Kooperatives Arbeiten und rechnergestützte Medizinische Diagnostik auf innovativen Netzen der Deutschen Telekom) was performed. METHODS: CT examinations were transmitted from an Advantage Windows (GE) workstation to a Kamedin workstation using DICOM 3 protocol. Afterwards a teleconference was established with a Kamedin workstation in the intensive care unit within the hospital via FDDI/Ethernet, with an external workstation in a radiology department 6 km away via ISDN and with a Kamedin PC located with radiologist on duty 22 km away via ISDN. On average, 36 CT slices per patient were transferred. A break-even analysis was performed with respect to costs of hardware, software, support, use of ISDN and staff, as well as benefits like the decrease in transportation or film documentation costs. RESULTS: Owing to the different reductions in transportation costs, two applications (intensive care unit and external PC) showed a break-even of 1817 and 528 teleconferences/year, respectively. Further optimisation of cost-effectiveness is possible on condition that existing hardware can be used and an automatic data transfer without staff control is available. When all optimisation factors were combined, the break-even decreased to a minimum of 167 and 77 teleconferences/ year, respectively. CONCLUSION: Teleconferences with high image quality can be set up between workstations and PCs using the Kamedin system. Depending on the possible decrease in transportation costs, teleconferencing is cost-effective under certain conditions. Teleradiology has additional advantages, such as the acceleration and optimisation of patient management.

Computer Communication Networks↗

[Goals, requirements and prerequisites of teleradiology. An assessment of current status].

Specific radiological requirements have to be considered for the realization of telemedicine. In this article the goals and requirements for an extensive introduction of teleradiology will be defined from the radiological user's point of view. Necessary medical, legal and professional prerequisites for teleradiology are presented. Essential requirements, such as data security, maintenance of personal rights and standardization, must be realized. Application-specific requirements, e.g. quality and extent of teleradiological functions, as well as technological alternatives, are discussed. Each project must be carefully planned in relation to one's own needs, extent of functions and system selection. Topics, such as acknowledgement of electronic documentation, reimbursement of teleradiology and liability, must be clarified. Legal advice and the observance of quality guidelines are recommended.

Forecasting↗

[Radiologic medical desktop conferences--clinical evaluation of the KAMEDIN teleradiology system in routine practice of a radiologic institute].

KAMEDIN is a teleradiology project of "Deutsche Telekom". ISDN based image transfer, visualisation and online-presentation of digital radiological images is performed. In this study the suitability of the KAMEDIN-system has been tested in a clinical environment. The software has been adapted to the requirements of radiological image visualisation. During 6 months over 50 conferences took place with an average of 36 CT-slices per patient. The amount of time was approximately 10 min for conference preparation, 20 min for image transfer and 8 min for conferencing. Software problems occurred and were solved. Image quality on the monitor as well as online presentation including "simultaneous cursors" showed high performance and achieved high acceptance by the clinicians. Thus KAMEDIN is a useful teleradiology system, especially if the system is adapted to the requirements of radiology departments.

Computer Systems↗

Retinal hemorrhage.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning↗

Pediatric interhospital critical care transport: consensus of a national leadership conference.

As pediatric interhospital critical care transport has evolved toward a distinct discipline, practitioners in this field have recognized the need for guidelines for transport program development and patient care. At a gathering of medical directors of pediatric transport programs, the following topics were discussed: team composition and transport staffing, training requirements for pediatric and nonpediatric transport teams, goals and design of a transport data base, and medical-legal issues, including the responsibilities of the referring and receiving institutions. Consensus recommendations were made for the major issues in each of these areas. Several questions were raised which may be answered by multiinstitutional studies.

Child↗

Pediatric coin ingestions. A prospective study of coin location and symptoms.

Coins are the most common esophageal foreign body in children. We prospectively evaluated 52 consecutive children who had swallowed coins to determine the incidence of asymptomatic esophageal coins and the rate of spontaneous passage. All patients had a roentgenogram; coins were removed from the esophagus if the patient was symptomatic. children with asymptomatic esophageal coins were allowed less than 24 hours to pass the coin to the stomach. Thirty children had esophageal coins; of these, 9 (30%) were asymptomatic. The presence of symptoms was significantly associated with esophageal coins, but the absence of symptoms did not reliably exclude the possibility of an esophageal coin. All children who swallow coins should undergo roentgenographic evaluation.

Child↗