title: Realizing a Realtime Shared Patient Chart using a Universal Message Forwarding Architecture.
abstract: The goal of this paper is to describe the clinical needs and the informational methodology which led to the realization of a realtime shared patient chart. It is an integral part of the communications infrastructure of the Patient Data Management System (PDMS) ICUData which is in routine use at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Department for Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Hospital of Giessen, Germany, since February 1999. ICUData utilizes a four tier system architecture consisting of modular clients, message forwarders, application servers and a relational database management system. All layers communicate with health level seven messages. The innovative aspect of this architecture consists of the interposition of a message forwarder layer which allows for instant exchange of patient data between the clients without delays caused by database access. This works even in situations with high workload as in patient monitoring. Therefore a system with many workstations acts a blackboard for patient data allowing shared access under realtime conditions. Realized first as an experimental feature, it has been embraced by the clinical users and served well during the documentation of more than 18000 patient stays.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Administrative Data Processing, University of Gießen, Gießen, Germany.
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michel-Backofen
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demming
authors.forename: Rainer
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Röhrig
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benson
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marquardt
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hempelmann
mesh_terms: D003628:Database Management Systems; D004282:Documentation; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized