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The European Glaucoma Society Glaucocard project: improved digital documentation of medical data for glaucoma patients based on standardized structured international datasets

  • Glaucoma
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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate existing international IT-based ophthalmological medical data projects, and to define a glaucoma data set based on existing international standards of medical and ophthalmological documentation. To develop the technical environment for easy data mining and data exchange in different countries in Europe.

Methods

Existing clinical and IT-based projects for documentation of medical data in general medicine and ophthalmology were analyzed to create new data sets for medical documentation in glaucoma patients. Different types of data transfer methods were evaluated to find the best method of data exchange between ophthalmologists in different European countries.

Results

Data sets from existing IT projects showed a wide variability in specifications, use of codes, terms and graphical data (perimetry, optic nerve analysis etc.) in glaucoma patients. New standardized digital datasets for glaucoma patients were defined, based on existing standards, which can be used by general ophthalmologists for follow-up examinations and for glaucoma specialists to perform teleconsultation, also across country borders. Datasets are available in different languages. Different types of data exchange methods using secure medical data transfer by internet, USB stick and smartcard were tested for different countries with regard to legal acceptance, practicability and technical realization (e.g. compatibility with EMR systems).

Conclusion

By creating new standardized glaucoma specific cross-national datasets, it is now possible to develop an electronic glaucoma patient record system for data storage and transfer based on internet, smartcard or USB stick. The digital data can be used for referrals and for teleconsultation of glaucoma specialists in order to optimize glaucoma treatment. This should lead to an increase of quality in glaucoma care, and prevent expenses in health care costs by unnecessary repeated examinations.

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Acknowledgements

The Glaucocard Study group received an unrestricted grant from MSD/Chibret Europe

The Glaucocard Workgroup consists of:

A Anton, Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain;

F Dannheim, Seevetal, Germany;

F Grehn, University Eye Hospital, Würzburg, Germany;

R Hitchings, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK;

AH Hommer, Sanatorium Hera, Vienna, Austria;

M Hyppa, Karlsruhe, Germany;

M Schargus, University Eye Hospital, Würzburg, Germany;

CE Traverso Clinica Oculistica, DiNOG, Azienda Ospedale Universita` San Martino, Genoa, Italy;

R Waedlich, ifa systems AG, Frechen, Germany;

S Wente, ASW GmbH Fidus, Darmstadt, Germany;

T Zeyen, University Eye Hospital Leuven, Belgium

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Marc Schargus & Franz Grehn

  2. University Eye Hospital Würzburg, Josef Schneider Str. 11, 97080, Würzburg, Germany

    The Glaucocard Workgroup

Authors
  1. Marc Schargus
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  2. Franz Grehn
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  3. The Glaucocard Workgroup
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marc Schargus.

Additional information

Supported by an unrestricted grant from MSD/Chibret Europe.

Appendix

Appendix

Table 4 Complete glaucoma classification conversion table EGS 2003 Guidelines – ICD 10 WHO
Full size table
Table 5 Complete Glaucocard report data set figures
Full size table

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Schargus, M., Grehn, F. & The Glaucocard Workgroup The European Glaucoma Society Glaucocard project: improved digital documentation of medical data for glaucoma patients based on standardized structured international datasets. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 246, 1757–1768 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0929-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-008-0929-x

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