Cardiac surgery and cardiological data integration between remote structures

Patient data exchange between remote cardiology and cardiac surgery may represent a real problem in everyday patient care. This study was aimed to assess database connectivity in a cardiology department with a remote cardiac surgery, to explore possibilities of technology standards and to establish a background for developments in teleconsulting. Digital imaging and communication protocol (DICOM) and HL7 standard were adopted. Data from cardiology were dispatched to surgeons by an Internet connection. For patients undergoing surgery, information coming from the surgical department could be reviewed by cardiologists for subsequent follow up. This approach allows rapid consultation and exchange of structured data and images between cardiologists and surgeons even in remote sites; this model improves clinical care by reducing geographical barriers between physicians practicing in distant structures.