RDA: a standard for client server communication in a hospital information system

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Hospital Information Systems
• Telecommunications in Healthcare

Background:

• The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg's medical faculty is geographically distributed across Erlangen.
• Efficient exchange of patient data and medical reports between departments is essential for optimal patient care.
• Existing data management systems require enhanced connectivity to support modern healthcare needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a robust hospital communication system for seamless medical data exchange.
• To integrate various departments and facilities within the Erlangen medical faculty.
• To implement advanced networking solutions for efficient information flow.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an Ethernet cabling network within hospitals.
• Establishment of a glass fiber backbone for high-speed data transmission.
• Utilizing the international standard X.400 for electronic mail-based data exchange.
• Employing the NET-WORK software for remote access to central databases.

Main Results:

• The developed network infrastructure supports electronic exchange of medical information across the university hospital.
• Basic patient data can be effectively distributed to various stations and departments.
• Computer-generated medical reports are transmitted efficiently to designated points within the hospitals.

Conclusions:

• The Erlangen hospital communication system successfully enables electronic medical data exchange.
• The integrated network enhances data accessibility and facilitates inter-departmental collaboration.
• The combination of X.400 and NET-WORK provides a versatile solution for hospital data management and communication.