Specialty
Cardiology
Fast Forwarding to Integrated ERA The future will be dominated by digital technologies which will prevent, treat and finally cure the disease without expecting a blockbuster drug to be discovered By Shally Makin
M
ark wouldn’t have been alive today, had the cardiac scanner trial not been conducted by his doctors. The report revealed a major blockage in his coronary arteries and he was operated without any further delay, which saved his life. The digital world has generated amazingly detailed, three-dimensional images through sophisticated computer and IT infrastructure. In 1816, stethoscope was one valuable patient assessment device used to monitor every heart beat. The breath sounds diagnose the condition of heart and provide information regarding the patient’s ventilation-perfusion relationship. However,
since then there has been great development in the medical field. Traditionally, the treatments were performed via face to face evaluation by specialists and trained staff. No one would have imagined that there will be a day when a doctor will be just five minutes away. At the time of cardiac arrest, the immediate aid one needs is the CPR and today the ambulance has got it on wheels for the patient. This way the whole healthcare delivery system is turning towards digital processes. Today the evolution in device technology, increased demands in healthcare system and larger public acceptance of networks and communications has shown a paradigm shift in the sector. Since 1977, with the advent of inter-
ventional cardiology, the cardiologists have received various devices to examine the pace of heart and its functioning. Cardiac treatments nowadays are inclining towards technological innovations. The myriad data elements such as cardiology images, ECG waveforms, lab results, patient histories and hemodynamic monitoring and procedure data are successfully integrated to deliver care. For cardiology, the complications lie in the assimilation of relevant patient data and follow up of patient throughout the gamut of care. Several researches, innovations and devices have proved to provide treatments, which are less invasive, faster and successful. The massive campaign started by the IT infrastructure to implement digital processes and image updating has standardised the process to help meet key goals including trimming costs, optimising quality and increasing efficiency. Cardiology is a very sensitive department which needs effective integration of various information systems. The continuum of cardiac devices purposely needs a ‘DICOM like’ standard, which enables the transfer of images regardless of vendor and hemodynamic equipment such as Sensis, by Siemens Healthcare. This sector is now following the path of radiology with the introduction of a large number of devices using technologies, including capnography (method for patient monitoring of ventilation, pulmonary dead space and blood flow), PADnet, wireless technology in Cardiac
June 2011 < www.ehealthonline.org <
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