Standardized findings in echocardiography using WWW: EchoBefundSystem

As a non-invasive imaging system, ultrasound echocardiography has a very hi gh impact on modern diagnosis and is widely used in clinical routine but wi thout any structured and standardized documentation of the results. Thus, q uality management (QM), statistics and comparison of the results are diffic ult. Therefore, a working group of the German Cardiac Society issued a cons ensus proposal'. For evaluation and wide public distribution, we have devel oped the first internet-based application covering the full proposal: EchoB efundSystem(C) The EchoBefundSystem is a web based client-server application for standardi zed documentation of echocardiography results right at the workplace. The s oftware leads the examiner by means of a user interface design and stored m edical knowledge. The level of detail is scaled automatically to the ongoin g examination. Every day clinical routine is performed on only two pages, o ne for general patient data and a second one covering the complete minimal data set called "minimum finding" in the standard. As the examiner discover s more and more special findings or might even enter a complete medical stu dy, the interface offers more and more fields and checkboxes. One data set can contain up to 600 values and findings. The structured user interface re flects the organ structure as well as examination methods familiar to the e xaminer. Automatically calculated fields speed up the examination. Judgements, diagn oses, values and ranges are interrelated. If there is a difference between the entered data and the medical knowledge base, a warning will be issued b ut the doctor's decision is authoritative. Some values may be gathered by d ifferent methods and even different units are converted automatically. The final doctor's letter is generated automatically in clear text but stil l editable and can be given out to the patient right after the examination without any further delay. Beside the minimal data set, all abnormal findin gs will appear and findings will be summarized wherever possible. The repor t is intended for the referring general practitioner, your own documentatio n, expert witness as well as clinical studies. Interested examiners may test the full version online at http:// echo.ma.un i-heidelberg.de.