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Characterization of Image Transfer Patterns in a Regional Trauma Network

  • Transactional Processing Systems
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Abstract

Trauma Networks are currently founded in Germany to improve patient care of severely injured persons. To assure appropriate patient treatment in a short time, the transfer of radiological image data between the connected hospitals over the internet is an important method. This paper characterizes radiological image transfer patterns in a regional trauma network and analyzes various compression options. Within the “TraumaNetwork NorthWest” in Germany, the web-based platform “MedSix” was developed. MedSix is able to transfer DICOM-data quickly and easily between connected hospitals and can be directly connected to the local PACS. Audit data of the routine system between the 01.01.2012 and the 31.12.2012 were analyzed to identify typical characteristics of radiological image exchanges. Five different compression methods were compared by a simulation. MedSix has been used by 12 hospitals. 87 % of the transfers were uploaded within 15 min. Lossless compression is able to save about 50 % bandwidth. 82 % of the transfers have a data volume of less than 200 MB. Temporary accounts for non-regular users were used regularly. Most transfers were done from small to maximum care hospitals. It is feasible to substitute physical image exchange in a trauma network with electronic exchange of radiological images between the connected hospitals. Even large datasets are transferred within an acceptable time frame. Most transfers occur from small to large hospitals. The possibility of temporary accounts seems to be a key feature for the user acceptance.

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Notes

  1. Search term “data analysis dicom transfer” on pubmed.org. Executed on November 28, 2013.

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Acknowledgments

I want to thank the project partners of the Team TNNW-project, especially Maximilian Ataian (Gesakon GmbH) and Prof. Dr. Frank Ückert. Special thanks to Sandro Mesterheide for his work in the implementation and further development of MedSix and H.E.L.P. Ideas and parts of source code provided by the mdpe project, financed by the Deutsche Kinderkrebsstiftung, are greatly appreciated.

Authors’ contributions

PN captured and analyzed all data and wrote the manuscript. CJ was project leader for the TNNW-project and designed the medical concept of this study. TW contributed to the evaluation of the data. PN, MD and BB developed the data analysis concept. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Competing interests / funding

The Team TNNW-project has been funded by the European Union, grant no. 005-GW01-128.

The system is currently in use and operated by the authors. The authors declare that they have no other competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut of Medical Informatics, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    Philipp Neuhaus & Martin Dugas

  2. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Germany

    Thomas Weber

  3. Department of Trauma, Hand and Reconstructive Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    Christian Juhra

  4. Faculty of Health Care, Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences, Krefeld, Germany

    Bernhard Breil

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  1. Philipp Neuhaus
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  3. Martin Dugas
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  4. Christian Juhra
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Philipp Neuhaus.

Additional information

This article is part of the Topical Collection on Transactional Processing Systems

Martin Dugas, Christian Juhra, and Bernhard Breil, contributed equally to this work.

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Neuhaus, P., Weber, T., Dugas, M. et al. Characterization of Image Transfer Patterns in a Regional Trauma Network. J Med Syst 38, 137 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10916-014-0137-7

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