scholarly journals An Assessment of the Interoperability of Electronic Health Record Exchanges Among Hospitals and Clinics in Taiwan (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsyien-Chia Wen ◽  
Wei-Pin Chang ◽  
Min-Huei Hsu ◽  
Cheng-Hsun Ho ◽  
Chi-Ming Chu

BACKGROUND The rapid aging of the Taiwanese population in recent years has led to high medical needs for the elderly and increasing medical costs. Integrating patient information through electronic health records (EHRs) to reduce unnecessary medications and tests and enhance the quality of care has currently become an important issue. Although electronic data interchanges among hospitals and clinics have been implemented for many years in Taiwan, the interoperability of EHRs has not adequately been assessed. OBJECTIVE The study aimed to analyze the efficiency of data exchanges and provide suggestions for future improvements. METHODS We obtained 30 months of uploaded and downloaded data of EHRs among hospitals and clinics. The research objects of this study comprised 19 medical centers, 57 regional hospitals, 95 district hospitals, and 5520 clinics. We examined 4 exchange EHR forms: laboratory test reports, medical images, discharge summaries, and outpatient medical records. We used MySQL (Oracle Corporation) software (to save our data) and phpMyAdmin, which is a Personal Home Page program, to manage the database and then analyzed the data using SPSS 19.0 statistical software. RESULTS The quarterly mean uploaded volume of EHRs among hospitals was 52,790,721 (SD 580,643). The quarterly mean downloaded volume of EHRs among hospitals and clinics was 650,323 (SD 215,099). The ratio of uploaded to downloaded EHRs was about 81:1. The total volume of EHRs was mainly downloaded by medical centers and clinics, which accounted for 53.82% (mean 318,717.80) and 45.41% (mean 269,082.10), respectively, and the statistical test was significant among different hospital accreditation levels (F2=7.63; P<.001). A comparison of EHR download volumes among the 6 National Health Insurance (NHI) branches showed that the central NHI branch downloaded 11,366,431 records (21.53%), which was the highest, and the eastern branch downloaded 1,615,391 records (3.06%), which was the lowest. The statistical test among the 6 NHI branches was significant (F5=8.82; P<.001). The download volumes of laboratory tests reports and outpatient medical records were 26,980,425 (50.3%) and 21,747,588 records (40.9%), respectively, and were much higher than medical images and discharge summaries. The statistical test was also significant (F=17.72; P<.001). Finally, the download time showed that the average for x-rays was 32.05 seconds, which was the longest, and was 9.92 seconds for electrocardiogram, which was the shortest, but there was no statistically significant difference among download times for various medical images. CONCLUSIONS After years of operation, the Electronic Medical Record Exchange Center has achieved the initial goal of EHR interoperability, and data exchanges are running quite stably in Taiwan. However, the meaningful use of EHRs among hospitals and clinics still needs further encouragement and promotion. We suggest that the government’s leading role and collective collaboration with health care organizations are important for providing effective health information exchanges.

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Allen-Graham ◽  
Lauren Mitchell ◽  
Natalie Heriot ◽  
Roksana Armani ◽  
David Langton ◽  
...  

Objective The aim of the present study was to audit the current use of medical records to determine completeness and concordance with other sources of medical information. Methods Medical records for 40 patients from each of five Melbourne major metropolitan hospitals were randomly selected (n=200). A quantitative audit was performed for detailed patient information and medical record keeping, as well as data collection, storage and utilisation. Using each hospital’s current online clinical database, scanned files and paperwork available for each patient audited, the reviewers sourced as much relevant information as possible within a 30-min time allocation from both the record and the discharge summary. Results Of all medical records audited, 82% contained medical and surgical history, allergy information and patient demographics. All audited discharge summaries lacked at least one of the following: demographics, medication allergies, medical and surgical history, medications and adverse drug event information. Only 49% of records audited showed evidence the discharge summary was sent outside the institution. Conclusions The quality of medical data captured and information management is variable across hospitals. It is recommended that medical history documentation guidelines and standardised discharge summaries be implemented in Australian healthcare services. What is known about this topic? Australia has a complex health system, the government has approved funding to develop a universal online electronic medical record system and is currently trialling this in an opt-out style in the Napean Blue Mountains (NSW) and in Northern Queensland. The system was originally named the personally controlled electronic health record but has since been changed to MyHealth Record (2016). In Victoria, there exists a wide range of electronic health records used to varying degrees, with some hospitals still relying on paper-based records and many using scanned medical records. This causes inefficiencies in the recall of patient information and can potentially lead to incidences of adverse drug events. What does this paper add? This paper supports the concept of a shared medical record system using 200 audited patient records across five Victorian metropolitan hospitals, comparing the current information systems in place for healthcare practitioners to retrieve data. This research identifies the degree of concordance between these sources of information and in doing so, areas for improvement. What are the implications for practitioners? Implications of this research are the improvements in the quality, storage and accessibility of medical data in Australian healthcare systems. This is a relevant issue in the current Australian environment where no guidelines exist across the board in medical history documentation or in the distribution of discharge summaries to other healthcare providers (general practitioners, etc).


2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 5041
Author(s):  
Farkhondeh Jamshidi ◽  
Ahmad Ghorbani ◽  
Sina Darvishi*

The abuse of some pesticides especially to suicide is one of the current problems of pesticides. Aluminum phosphide induced poisoning usually happens to suicide and sometimes it is due to accidental occupational exposure and in a few cases it has some criminal intensions. This study is conducted to evaluate patients poisoned with aluminum phosphide. In the present study the medical records of cases of poisoning with rice tablets (aluminum phosphide) hospitalized in Ahvaz Razi hospital is studied. Accordingly, a checklist is prepared that included demographic information of patients (age, gender) and information on patient records (information on poisoning) are completed using the patients’ medical records. The analysis of data is done by SPSS V22. 18 patients poisoned with rice tablet (aluminum phosphide) are studied. Results of the study show that 11 patients are male and seven are female. The mean patient age is 27.06 ±8.04 years that is 28 ±9 and 25 ±6.02 in men and women respectively. Statistical tests show no statistically significant difference in mean age in both genders (P> 0.05). Among patients, 11 subjects took aluminum phosphide to attempt suicide and 3 cases took it unintentionally and of course the reason is not mentioned in four cases. Among the patients who tried to commit suicide by taking aluminum phosphide, 6 cases are male and 5 cases are female that no statistically significant difference is observed between the genders in this respect (P> 0.05). In addition to the study of the complications caused by this poisoning and its mortality, it is recommended to responsible authorities to provide the necessary educations and treatments to prevent this type of poisoning.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 923.3-923
Author(s):  
S. Boussaid ◽  
M. Mrabet ◽  
S. Jemmali ◽  
H. Sahli ◽  
H. Ajlani ◽  
...  

Background:Tuberculosis (TB) is no longer a disease limited to developing nations and is still a major cause of significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. It can affect the different parts of the spine.Objectives:The aim of this study was to determine the preferred spinal location of TB.Methods:We conduct a retrospective and descriptive study in a single rheumatology department. Data were collected from observations of patients hospitalized in the past 20 years (2000-2020) who have been diagnosed with tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS).Results:Fifty-two patients were included (37F/15M). Their mean age was 55.21 years ± 17.79 [19-91]. TS was more frequently unifocal (75%) than multifocal (25%). Lumbar spine involvement was the most common (57.7%) and more frequent in women (63.3%) but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.2). Other localizations were described such as: dorso-lumbar (21.2%), dorsal (15.4%), lumbosacral (3.8%) and cervical (1.9%). Lumbar pain was present in 34 patients (65.4%) and 29 patients (55.8%) suffered from segmental lumbar stiffness. Imaging was contributive by showing the vertebral location using standard X-rays, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Disc pinch, erosion of vertebral plateaus and vertebral collapse were the major signs (82.7%, 65.4% and 67.3%, respectively).Conclusion:TS is a rare but serious clinical condition which may lead to severe deformity and early or late neurological complications. Spinal involvement is often unifocal and mostly diagnosed with lumbar pain or stiffness. Multifocal forms, touching several parts of the spine, however remain rare. Our findings remain consistent with those of the literature.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S341-S342
Author(s):  
Varidhi Nauriyal ◽  
Anita Shallal ◽  
Amit T Vahia ◽  
Linoj Samuel ◽  
Robert Tibbetts ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Convalescent plasma (CP) has been described as a potential therapy for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Given paucity of data, we sought to describe characteristics of CP recipients in survivors and non-survivors. Methods We conducted retrospective review of electronic medical records which included any patient with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test who received CP at an 890-bed quaternary care hospital in Southeast Michigan between March-May 2020. Data collected included: demographics, co-morbidities, mSOFA score on admission, laboratory values, and treatment. Outcomes assessed included inflammatory markers and clinical status based on an 8-point ordinal scalea. These values were recorded on admission, the date of CP (day 1), day 3, 7, and day 30 post-CP. Patient outcomes were stratified by ordinal scale score and compared using Mann-Whitney U tests to examine differences in clinical characteristics: scale of 1–4 (“meaningful survivor”), 5–7 (“survivor”), and 8 (“non-survivor”). Results Results of our study are summarized in Table 1 and 2. Non-survivors were older than survivors (62 vs 71 years; p=0.026). There was no statistically significant difference between patient gender, race, number of days from positive PCR test to CP, treatments, and co-morbidities. There was a trend toward higher mSOFA score on admission in non-survivors (p=0.056). A lower ordinal scale score on the date of receiving CP was significantly associated with meaningful survivorship (6 vs 7, p=0.005). Comparisons of Characteristics Based on Ordinal Scale at Day 30 Comparisons of Outcomes Based on Ordinal Scale at Day 30 Conclusion Patients who have a lower ordinal scale score on the date of CP administration are most likely to have meaningful survivorship at day 30. Future studies should evaluate optimal timing and outcomes for CP therapy in COVID-19. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
Payam Farzad ◽  
Ted Lundgren ◽  
Adel Al-Asfour ◽  
Lars Andersson ◽  
Christer Dahlin

This study was undertaken to investigate the integration of titanium micro-implants installed in conjunction with previously dentin-grafted areas and to study the morphological appearance, mineral content, and healing pattern of xenogenic EDTA-conditioned dentin blocks and granules grafted to cavities in the tibial bone of rabbits. Demineralized and non-demineralized dentin blocks and granules from human premolars were implanted into cavities prepared on the lateral aspects of the tibias of rabbits. After a healing period of six months, micro-implants were installed at each surgical site. Histological examinations were carried out after 24 weeks. Characterization of the EDTA-conditioned dentin blocks was performed by means of light microscopy, dental X-rays, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). No implants were found to be integrated in direct contact with the dentin particles or blocks. On the EDTA-conditioned dentin surface, the organic marker elements C and N dominated, as revealed by EDX. The hydroxyapatite constituents Ca and P were almost absent on the dentin surface. No statistically significant difference was observed between the EDTA-conditioned and non-demineralized dentin, as revealed by BIC and BA. The bone-inductive capacity of the dentin material seemed limited, although demineralization by means of EDTA indicated higher BIC and BA values in conjunction with the installed implants in the area. A 12 h EDTA treatment did not fully decalcify the grafts, as revealed by X-ray analysis.


Author(s):  
Fawad Masood ◽  
Maha Driss ◽  
Wadii Boulila ◽  
Jawad Ahmad ◽  
Sadaqat Ur Rehman ◽  
...  

AbstractMedical images possess significant importance in diagnostics when it comes to healthcare systems. These images contain confidential and sensitive information such as patients’ X-rays, ultrasounds, computed tomography scans, brain images, and magnetic resonance imaging. However, the low security of communication channels and the loopholes in storage systems of hospitals or medical centres put these images at risk of being accessed by unauthorized users who illegally exploit them for non-diagnostic purposes. In addition to improving the security of communication channels and storage systems, image encryption is a popular strategy adopted to ensure the safety of medical images against unauthorized access. In this work, we propose a lightweight cryptosystem based on Henon chaotic map, Brownian motion, and Chen’s chaotic system to encrypt medical images with elevated security. The efficiency of the proposed system is proved in terms of histogram analysis, adjacent pixels correlation analysis, contrast analysis, homogeneity analysis, energy analysis, NIST analysis, mean square error, information entropy, number of pixels changing rate, unified average changing intensity, peak to signal noise ratio and time complexity. The experimental results show that the proposed cryptosystem is a lightweight approach that can achieve the desired security level for encrypting confidential image-based patients’ information.


Author(s):  
Kristi M. King ◽  
Jason R. Jaggers ◽  
Lindsay J. Della ◽  
Timothy McKay ◽  
Sara Watson ◽  
...  

Purpose: To determine associations between physical activity (PA) and sport participation on HbA1c levels in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Method: Pediatric patients with T1D were invited to complete a PA and sport participation survey. Data were linked to their medical records for demographic characteristics, diabetes treatment and monitoring plans, and HbA1c levels. Results: Participants consisted of 71 females and 81 males, were 13 ± 3 years old with an average HbA1c level of 8.75 ± 1.81. Children accumulating 60 min of activity 3 days or more a week had significantly lower HbA1c compared to those who accumulated less than 3 days (p < 0.01) of 60 min of activity. However, there was no significant difference in HbA1c values based on sport participation groups. A multiple linear regression model indicated that PA, race, age, duration of diagnosis, and CGM use all significantly predicted HbA1c (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study demonstrated the significant relationship between daily PA and HbA1c. Those in this sample presented with lower HbA1c values even if accumulating less than the recommended number of days of activity. Further, it was shown that sport participation alone may not be adequate enough to impact HbA1c in a similar manner.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 926.1-926
Author(s):  
M. Mrabet ◽  
S. Boussaid ◽  
S. Jemmali ◽  
H. Sahli ◽  
H. Ajlani ◽  
...  

Background:Tuberculosis is still endemic all over the world. The incidence of tuberculous spondylodiscitis (TS) is steadily increasing. Clinical features and outcomes of this affection are various and depending on various parameters, including age.Objectives:Our objective was to explore the differences in presentation and the results of further investigations and the prognosis of TS between young and elderly subjects.Methods:We conduct a retrospective and descriptive study in a single rheumatology department. Data were collected from files of patients hospitalized in the past 20 years (2000-2020) who have been diagnosed with TS. We carried out a comparative study concerning the clinical biological, imaging features and outcomes between young subjects and subjects aged over 65 years.Results:Fifty-two cases of TS were collected (37F/15M). The mean age of the population was 55.21 years ± 17.79 [19-91]. Thirty-three patients (69.2%) were classified as young versus 16 elderly patients (30.8%), with female predominance in both groups (69.4% and 75% respectively, p = 0.57). Young subjects was more frequently vaccinated (88.9%) by Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) (p < 0.001). A delayed diagnosis was noted in both groups (p = 0.24). Lumbar spine involvement was the most common (57.7%). In the two age ranges, the onset of the disease was progressive (p = 0.22), characterized by segmental spine stiffness (p = 0.57) and lumbar pain with general signs (p = 0.27), such as: impaired general condition, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Biological inflammatory syndrome and normochrome normocytic anemia were encountered in both cases (p = 0.08 and p = 0.2, respectively). Standard X-rays and Computed tomography were more performed in young subjects (94.4% and 69.4%, respectively; p < 0.001), unlike magnetic resonance imaging which was more common in elderly subjects but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.22). Disc pinch, erosion of vertebral plateaus and vertebral collapse were the major signs (82.7%, 65.4% and 67.3%, respectively). Clinical, biological and imaging arguments contributed to positive diagnosis in both groups (p = 0.24). Common medical treatment was anti-tuberculosis: Isoniazid (H), Rifampicin (R), Pyrazinamide (Z), Ethambutol (E) and physical treatment such as immobilization witch was more common in the eldery (56.3%, p = 0.16). The evolution of the disease was characterized by a clear improvement of young subjects during the second week of treatment (p < 0.001). A more frequent clinical improvement in older subjects was during the fourth week but with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.13). The occurrence of immediate complications was more frequent in the elderly (p = 0.23) with a predominance for drug complications (56.3%) such as: hepatic cytolysis (12.5%), hyperuricemia (18.8%) and major intolerance to anti-tuberculosis (18.8%).Conclusion:TS is a frequent condition that needs to be treated rapidly. the clinical presentation of TS in the elderly is less noisy which leads to more frequent complications and mortality.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Author(s):  
Christoph Robier ◽  
Maximiliane Haas ◽  
Franz Quehenberger

AbstractObjectivesData on the clinical importance of the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies in patients with negative indirect immunofluorescence on the HEp-2 cell (IIF) are sparse and are especially not available for all common commercially available assays. This study aimed to assess the clinical significance of anti-dsDNA antibodies determined by the Elia™ dsDNA assay in patients with negative IIF.MethodsWe retrospectively examined the medical records of 234 consecutive subjects with detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies determined by the Elia™ dsDNA assay.ResultsA total of 124 subjects with detectable anti-dsDNA autoantibodies were IIF-negative, but yielded positive or borderline results in the Elia™ CTD screen assay for antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Within this group, 6/49 IIF-negative patients (12%) with ANA-associated systemic autoimmune rheumatic disorders (AASARD) and 118/185 subjects (64%) with various other diseases (Non-AASARD) were identified. There was no statistically significant difference with regard to the concentrations of anti-dsDNA antibodies (p=0.53) between the AASARD and the Non-AASARD group. Within the AASARD group, four patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, treated), discoid lupus erythematosus (untreated), indetermined connective tissue disease (untreated) and polymyositis (treated) had positive anti-dsDNA autoantibodies, whereas two patients with treated SLE, thereby one in remission, had borderline concentrations of anti-dsDNA antibodies.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the detection of anti-dsDNA antibodies in IIF-negative patients can be of clinical relevance in some cases. Our results further support the combined use of IIF and solid-phase assays in screening algorithms for ANA, in order to avoid overlooking potentially important autoantibody entities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 112.1-112
Author(s):  
L. Brandt ◽  
H. Schulze-Koops ◽  
T. Hügle ◽  
M. J. Nissen ◽  
H. Paul ◽  
...  

Background:The therapeutic aim for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is to control disease activity and prevent radiographic progression. Various clinical scores are utilized to describe disease activity in RA patients. The DAS28 score can define states of low disease activity (LDA) and remission. Despite achieving LDA or remission, radiographic progression may nevertheless occur. However, the rates and frequency of this occurrence have not been analyzed in detail.Objectives:To describe the frequency and rate of radiographic progression in patients with persistent LDA or remission.Methods:Analysis of RA patients from the SCQM cohort. Persistent LDA or remission were defined as DAS 28 ≤3.2 or <2.6 respectively, at two subsequent follow up time points in the database. We included patients with at least two sets of radiographs within these intervals of LDA and/or remission. Radiographic progression was measured with the Ratingen-score (range 0-190), which describes joint erosions numerically. Repair was defined as an improvement in the Ratingen score >5 points/year and progression as >2 or >5 points change in the Ratingen score within one year.Results:Among 10’141 RA patients, 4’342 episodes of remission occurred in 3’927 patients with 1’776 sets of X rays available within these episodes. Similarly, 8’136 episodes of LDA in 6’765 patients and 2’358 sets of X rays were present within these intervals. For patients in LDA or remission, rates of repair were 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively, while for radiographic progression >5 points in the Ratingen score/year were 10.3% in both groups and for >2 points change of Ratingen score/year were 27.7 and 25.4%, respectively).No differences for demographic factors or measures of disease activity, rheumatoid factor or ACPA were found comparing patients with radiographic progression or non-progression despite LDA or remission at the beginning of the episode of LDA and/or remission.Interestingly, 42.9% of patients in LDA with progression of >5 points in the Ratingen score/year were current smokers vs 29.4% among the non-progressors (X2 = 6.55, p = 0.01). This significant difference vanished when the cut-off for radiographic progression was set at >2 points yearly change in Ratingen score or in patients in remission.Conclusion:Radiographic progression despite LDA or remission are more frequent than expected. No differences in radiographic progression were found comparing LDA and remission suggesting that the goal of LDA is appropriate. Smoking seems to be an independent risk factor for radiographic progression despite LDA. Why the effect of smoking could was not demonstrated in patients in remission, remains unclear.Disclosure of Interests:Lena Brandt: None declared, Hendrik Schulze-Koops: None declared, Thomas Hügle Consultant of: GSK, Abbvie, Pfizer, Jansen, Novartis, Eli Lilly., Michael J. Nissen Consultant of: Abbvie, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Janssen, Novartis and Pfizer, Hasler paul Consultant of: Abbvie, Lilly, Rudiger Muller Consultant of: AbbVie, Novartis, Grant/research support from: Gebro


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