Improving dialysis services through information technology: from telemedicine to data mining

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2001;84(Pt 1):795-9.

Abstract

This paper discusses the issues related to use of Information Technology (IT) solutions in dialysis, and describes the implementation of some of them in a medium size dialysis center. First, starting from the analysis of the organization of public-health nephrology services, the potential role of IT is highlighted. Second, the main directions for IT exploitation in dialysis, namely telemedicine and automated monitoring of dialysis sessions are discussed. Third, the on-field implementation of these services is described, together with some preliminary results. The work here presented shows how IT may improve dialysis services by ameliorating quality and reducing costs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / economics
  • Ambulatory Care Facilities / organization & administration*
  • Cost Savings
  • Humans
  • Information Storage and Retrieval
  • Medical Informatics Applications*
  • Patient Care / economics
  • Patient Care / methods*
  • Quality Assurance, Health Care
  • Renal Dialysis* / economics
  • Renal Dialysis* / instrumentation
  • Telemedicine* / economics