title: [Capsule endoscopy in a supra-regional network corporation: experience in more than 1000 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Capsule endoscopy (CE) is firmly established as a standard procedure in the diagnostic algorithm of mid gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Despite its excellent diagnostic yield, missing expertise, reading time and financial expenditure limit an area-wide availability. A multicentric cooperation might compensate these disadvantages.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CE device was bought by a centrally located hospital (CH). CE-equipment is transported to the network partner (NP) on request and the procedure performed at the spot. Video reading is exclusively done in the CH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between January 2002 and July 2013, 1026 CE (548 m, 478f; 64 ± 16, 13 - 93 yrs.) were performed within the network. 744/1026 (73 %) CE were done at 17 NP, 282/1026 (27 %) in the CH. Between 2002 (n = 39) and 2012 (n = 136) the annual number of CE increased threefold. Leading indication for CE was suspected mid GI-bleeding (80 %). Mean latencies between requested date and actual examination were less than 24 h and 2 days between CE performance and report. 95 % of the capital investment in each cooperating hospital could be avoided by sharing one workstation within the network.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The experience from more than 1000 CE show that long-term multicentric utilization of CE equipment is feasible. Such a network runs at stable procedural quality levels similar to an in-house supply, allows an economic as well as area-wide availability of CE and improves reading expertise by centralized video evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 2, Klinikum Fürth, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Farnbacher
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I mit Poliklinik, Universitätsklinik Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Hagel
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 2, Klinikum Fürth, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 2, Klinikum Fürth, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik 2, Klinikum Fürth, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus der Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D053704:Capsule Endoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014600:Utilization Review