[Networking and integrated disease management. Advantages and disadvantages from the medical point of view].
At the moment the terms "networking", "cost reduction" and "integrated disease management" are frequently discussed in all branches of the German health care system. Unfortunately there are different interpretations of these terms. "Integrated disease management" in the meaning of communication between clinical and outpatient health care has al ready existed for years now. Traditional ways of communication lead to information loss. Losing information is a reason for low cost effectiveness and a prolonged healing process directly harming the patient. A computer network may prevent information loss and may in crease the performance of data transfer. Different sides have al ready started networking, and it is now necessary to bundle the interests. This necessity has been recognized by the German legislative. To lead this project to success it is important to know and to fulfil some medical criteria. Defining and describing these conditions is the topic of this paper. Our special intent is to show that digital technique is necessary to improve cooperation among physicians.
Deutsches Herzzentrum, Berlin. haensch@dhzb.de
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D003195:Computer Communication Networks; D016494:Computer Security; D003628:Database Management Systems; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D005858:Germany; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval / Q000379:methods*; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D013673:Technology Assessment, Biomedical; D013685:Telecommunications / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration*