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At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

[Second opinion in tumor surgery. Valuable--but needing improvement].

In complicated oncological cases, a second opinion is desirable, also in the view of the care-providing surgeon. It serves interdisciplinary therapeutic planning, and helps improve the quality of treatment. In the case of highly consequential interventions, the patient has a legal right to a second opinion. On a practical level, however, the implementation of this possibility encounters problems: organizational shortcomings, incomplete patient documentation, the stresses of patient transportation, loss of valuable time, in particular in the case of postal consultation, following consultation in a center the carrying out of treatment there, whether at the urging of the doctors there or the patient himself, lack of remuneration for the efforts of the consultants. Today, however, all the necessary technical facilities are in place to enable various experts to be consulted, virtually simultaneously, on any case, via video-conferencing.

Germany↗

[Telepathology at the Norwegian Radium Hospital].

BACKGROUND: The article gives an overview of the telepathology activity at the Norwegian Radium Hospital from the service was launched in 1994 and up until today. We show the development during these years and discuss telepathology in general terms. We also discuss those aspects that determine how well a telepathology service functions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 74 frozen section slides were diagnosed by two different telepathology systems. One of these systems was used for examining its appropriateness as a tool for second opinion in pathology. A new Internet-based system was developed that provided additional functionality. RESULTS: A telepathology system with a digital camera outperforms one with an analog camera with respect to diagnostic accuracy. INTERPRETATION: Image quality determines the precision of a telepathology service. Telepathology is a feasible tool for second opinion in pathology.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

Telecommunication--a new tool for quality assurance and control in diagnostic pathology.

Telepathology is the diagnostic work of a pathologist at a distance. It includes specific application fields which require specific system solutions. These comprise: a. frozen section service; b. expert consultations; c. remote control measurements, and d. education and training. Applications but, in addition, all aspects of diagnosis, especially those involved in the daily work flow of a pathologist. The image quality, transfer rates, and screen resolution of telepathology systems are sufficient for an additional or primary judgment of histological slides and cytological smears. It is, therefore, possible to include this technique into intralaboratory quality control of all steps of diagnostic procedures and to use this technique for quality assurance and control. Diagnostic quality is not a well defined term, and depends, in addition to external circumstances, on the diagnosis itself. The diagnostic quality can be maintained or even improved by use of telepathology systems. They can serve for control of image quality, access to various information sources, simultaneous transfer of images and diagnosis, and continuous education of the involved pathologists. For example, in continuous education and training, as a first step the pathologist should have access to an image data bank storing images related to the specific case, for example images taken from the same organ and from patients of similar age. The final stage would be an intra-diagnostic learning from the specific case; i.e. the time difference between questionnaires for a difficult diagnosis and the final diagnosis will become a minimum. Automated storing of the specific and diagnosis-associated images of the case will permit an open diagnostic system which will itself adjust to the micro-environment of the department of pathology. Although this future scenario has not been implemented to our knowledge, there is little doubt the development in telepathology will promote the technical procedures in the environment of a diagnostic pathologist. Telepathology is, therefore, not a substitute of conventional diagnostic procedures but a real improvement in the world of pathology.

Education, Medical, Continuing↗

Teledentistry: what is it now, and what will it be tomorrow?

A few years ago, teledentistry involved calling an expert on the telephone for advice. Now it involves consulting experts using the Internet. This article explains the basic ideas underlying teledentistry. It involves the local dentist digitizing and electronically transmitting drawings, diagrams, photographs, and X-rays to a specialist. Along with these data, the dentist will most likely need to fill out a standard consult form from the specialist's Web site. In return, the specialist will develop and return a confidential consultation report to the dentist or physician requesting help. For this service, a time-based fee will be paid to the expert. Unfortunately, it is likely that some doctors will use the Internet to set up and seek direct patient contact, thus becoming "cyberdentists." In most cases, cyberdentistry will not be in the best interests of the public. However, teledentistry should not only be a practice builder for the local dentist, but also has the potential for helping dentists better serve their patients while increasing their own knowledge.

Clinical Competence↗

E-mail-based oral medicine consultation.

A pilot study was undertaken to assess whether text-based electronic patient data transmission (e-mail) is a reliable source of information for the diagnostic decision-making process. The main objective was to determine if information contained within a transmitted text could be reliably used as basis for making general recommendations for diagnostic tests and follow-up or referral plans pertaining to a variety of oral mucosal pathologic conditions. The results suggest that face-to-face patient examination is more accurate in establishing a correct diagnosis for oral mucosal pathologies than transmitted descriptive patient data alone.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Solid outcomes show e-health and chronically ill senior populations are compatible.

Why? Because at least one new study suggests that many seniors not only embrace Internet-based models, but in fact prefer them over more traditional DM approaches. Further, Internet-based programs often come with additional benefits that cannot be delivered via interactive voice response (IVR) or other delivery models. There are challenges involved with an e-health approach to be sure, but some providers are finding that they are rewarded for their efforts with solid outcomes.

Aged↗

Telephone advice for neurosurgical referrals. Who assumes duty of care?

The rising rate of litigation against all specialities provides an incentive to develop risk management strategies. Much of a neurosurgeon's workload is telephone advice, which is rarely documented formally. This leaves us vulnerable to other clinicians' interpretation of our advice, their record of our conversation and poor accuracy of recall by both parties. We performed a prospective study of all telephone conversations with referring clinicians over 1 year, in order to assess the quality of information transfer. We found that the information received was often inaccurate, documentation of our given advice was poor, and criticism of neurosurgical care was unfounded. We have developed a proforma to be faxed back to the referring team. This will ensure that the information received, and the advice given in return, is recorded formally by both teams. Only time will tell if a joint record such as this will provide sufficient defence against litigation.

Adolescent↗

Patients following their echoes: the effect of telemedicine on institutional referral patterns.

UNLABELLED: Increasing market share by attracting patient referrals has long been cited as a justification for implementing telemedicine. METHODS: At the onset of this study, there were two level III NICUs in North Carolina that did not have on-site cardiology support. During the study period, both institutions set up telemedicine links to the University of North Carolina Health Care System for the provision of rapid cardiology support. OBJECTIVE: This paper tests the hypothesis that telemedicine was associated with an increase in the percentage of newborn referrals transferred to UNC instead of the other academic medical centers. RESULTS: Analysis of a total of 201 transfers over a three and a half year period shows that the percentage of acute transfers to UNC increased from 58 % during the pre-intervention phase to 86 % in the post-intervention phase (p = 0.001). An increase in transfers to UNC was observed from both of the level III centers. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine was an effective tool to attract patient referrals in a competitive tertiary care environment.

Academic Medical Centers↗

Exploration of diagnostic techniques for malignant melanoma: an integrative review.

The aim of this study is to explore the various diagnostic techniques for melanoma and assess their usefulness in the clinical practice of nurse practitioners. After a systematic review of the literature, 55 articles were closely reviewed, and from these, 26 studies were selected. These were original studies in English that examined diagnostic techniques that would improve accuracy for melanoma detection with a formal methods and results section. Six general categories dealing with diagnostic techniques for melanoma were found in the literature. These were naked-eye clinical examination alone, clinical examination with the aid of total-body photographs, epiluminescence microscopy (ELM), digital ELM, computer-assisted techniques, and teledermatology. Because of the research citing the poor diagnostic accuracy (DA) of nondermatologists, increased DA with dermatologists experienced in ELM techniques, and the importance of early melanoma diagnosis, the recommendation is to refer patients with suspicious pigmented skin lesions to experienced dermatologists, preferably those who use ELM or digital ELM.

Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted↗

The consult is real, the visit is virtual.

A web-based service was developed through which patients can obtain second opinions from physicians. Factors addressed included incorporating e-appointments into a medical practice, consolidating different approaches to second opinions, complying with disparate state licensing regulations, and communicating the program's features to providers and patients.

Communication↗

[Recommendations for appeal to another resource in a health case brought by nurses in the Info-Health Service CLSC: convergence between utilization declarations and informants' data].

OBJECTIVES: To examine the perception of telephone advice-line users as to whether or not a formal recommendation had been made to seek another consultation and to compare users' perception to what the nurse documented. To analyze the effects of different users' and call characteristics on the incorrectness of the self-report. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: This study is a secondary analysis of data obtained from 4,696 randomly selected participants in a survey conducted among users of Info-Santé CLSC, a free-of-charge telenursing health-line service (THLS) available throughout the province of Quebec. STUDY DESIGN/DATA COLLECTION: Self-reported advice from follow-up survey phone interviews, conducted within 48-120 hours after the participant's call, were compared to the data consigned by the nurse in the computerized call-record. Covariables concerned characteristics of callers, context of the call, and satisfaction with the nurses' intervention. Association between these variables and inaccurate reports was identified using multinomial logistic regression analyses. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Advice to consult another health resource was recorded by the nurse in 42% of cases, whereas 39% of callers stated they had received such a recommendation. Overall disagreement between the two sources is 27% (12% by false positive and 15% by false negative) and kappa is 0.45. Characteristics such as living alone (adjusted OR = 2.5), calls relating to psychological problems (OR = 2.8), perceived seriousness (OR = -2.6) as well as others, were associated with inaccurate reports. CONCLUSIONS: Telephone health-line providers should be aware that many callers appear to interpret advice to seek additional health care differently than intended. Our findings suggest the need for continuing quality control interventions to reduce miscommunication, ensure better understanding of advice by callers, and contribute to more effective service.

Adult↗

[Telemedicine support system in home care of patients with chronic respiratory failure: preliminary results].

We report the preliminary results of an advanced telemedicine system for the delivery of home care services. We have been trying out a system for a ternary telemedicine network for remote consultation in patients with chronic respiratory failure. The elements of this system are: the patients at home, the home doctor (and/or community hospital), and an institution with respiratory staff (Shinshu University), which were linked by ISDN lines. The system allows real-time visualization, at home, of the patients and their physiological data, which are transmitted simultaneously to both the community hospital and Shinshu University. Respiratory specialists can advise the home doctor on the treatment and follow-up evaluations of distant patients. We consider that the telemedicine network system has the potential to improve clinical outcomes and to provide home care services to patients with chronic health conditions.

Aged↗

Comparison of store and forward method of teledermatology with face-to-face consultation.

BACKGROUND: To compare the accuracy of store and forward method of teledermatology with the traditional face-to-face consultation. METHODS: The comparison was done between Institute of Dermatology King Edward Medical College Lahore that served as teledermatology center and Dermatology Department of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences Islamabad from where patients were selected. Telmedpak provided the technical support. Thirty three patients were selected from outpatient department of PIMS and images were taken using a digital camera. Images were stored in computer and were sent to Institute of Dermatology via e-mail for Teleconsultation along with a short history and examination findings. Diagnosis of consultant after face-to-face consultation was then compared with the image based diagnosis that is after teleconsultation. RESULTS: In 81% of the cases the diagnosis on face-to-face consultation was same (p < 0.05) while in 18% of the cases the two diagnoses differed. In 9% (n = 3) of the cases, image resolution was not good but out of these three, diagnosis was same in two and differed in one case. CONCLUSION: This study concludes that store and forward method of teledermatology is reliable and can provide a means of increasing access to dermatological care in rural and under-served areas.

Cohort Studies↗

The impact of a nursing triage line on the use of emergency department services in a military hospital.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of nursing telephone triage on the appropriateness of emergency department (ED) use among 563 patients at a military hospital by comparing 286 ED patients referred by the Tel-a-Nurse Line (TAN) with 277 non-TAN-referred patients from October 2000 to November 2000. When controlling for confounding factors, TAN-referred patients had less appropriate ED use than non-TAN-referred patients, although this was not statistically significant (odds ratio = 0.87, p = 0.452). After excluding TAN patients with a primary clinic disposition but who were directed to the ED because no clinic appointments were available, TAN-referred patients had more appropriate referrals than non-TAN patients, although this was also not significant (odds ratio = 1.19, p = 0.401). TAN patients directed to the ED because of clinic appointment unavailability contributed significantly to inappropriate ED use with 62% having low acuity. This finding underscores the need to evaluate clinic availability for the TAN line and possibly for all patients as well.

Adolescent↗