@article {1221, title = {RADAR-Base: Open Source Mobile Health Platform for Collecting, Monitoring, and Analyzing Data Using Sensors, Wearables, and Mobile Devices.}, journal = {JMIR Mhealth Uhealth}, volume = {7}, year = {2019}, month = {2019 08 01}, pages = {e11734}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: With a wide range of use cases in both research and clinical domains, collecting continuous mobile health (mHealth) streaming data from multiple sources in a secure, highly scalable, and extensible platform is of high interest to the open source mHealth community. The European Union Innovative Medicines Initiative Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse-Central Nervous System (RADAR-CNS) program is an exemplary project with the requirements to support the collection of high-resolution data at scale; as such, the Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse (RADAR)-base platform is designed to meet these needs and additionally facilitate a new generation of mHealth projects in this nascent field.

OBJECTIVE: Wide-bandwidth networks, smartphone penetrance, and wearable sensors offer new possibilities for collecting near-real-time high-resolution datasets from large numbers of participants. The aim of this study was to build a platform that would cater for large-scale data collection for remote monitoring initiatives. Key criteria are around scalability, extensibility, security, and privacy.

METHODS: RADAR-base is developed as a modular application; the backend is built on a backbone of the highly successful Confluent/Apache Kafka framework for streaming data. To facilitate scaling and ease of deployment, we use Docker containers to package the components of the platform. RADAR-base provides 2 main mobile apps for data collection, a Passive App and an Active App. Other third-Party Apps and sensors are easily integrated into the platform. Management user interfaces to support data collection and enrolment are also provided.

RESULTS: General principles of the platform components and design of RADAR-base are presented here, with examples of the types of data currently being collected from devices used in RADAR-CNS projects: Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and Depression cohorts.

CONCLUSIONS: RADAR-base is a fully functional, remote data collection platform built around Confluent/Apache Kafka and provides off-the-shelf components for projects interested in collecting mHealth datasets at scale.

}, issn = {2291-5222}, doi = {10.2196/11734}, author = {Ranjan, Yatharth and Rashid, Zulqarnain and Stewart, Callum and Conde, Pauline and Begale, Mark and Verbeeck, Denny and Boettcher, Sebastian and Dobson, Richard and Folarin, Amos} } @article {1284, title = {Risk of Posterior Capsule Rupture During Cataract Surgery in Eyes With Previous Intravitreal Injections.}, journal = {Am J Ophthalmol}, volume = {177}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 May}, pages = {77-80}, abstract = {

PURPOSE: To investigate the risk of posterior capsular rupture (PCR) during cataract surgery in eyes with previous intravitreal injection (IVI).

DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study.

METHODS: The Moorfields Patient Administrative System and OpenEyes electronic databases were used to study all cataract surgery procedures undertaken between January 1, 2012 and August 31, 2015 in the Moorfields main and satellite sites. Clinical data were anonymized and extracted, including prior occurrence and number of intravitreal injections. Logistic regression was performed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test for goodness of fit to generate odds ratios for possible risk factors.

RESULTS: In total, 62 994 cataract surgery procedures were undertaken over the study period, of which 1035 (1.64\%) were in eyes with previous intravitreal injection(s). PCR occurred in 650 (1.04\%) eyes. After logistic regression, prior intravitreal injection was associated with an increased risk of PCR (P~= .037), with an odds ratio of 1.66. The number of prior injections, indication for injections, and service undertaking the surgery were not associated with increased risk of PCR (P > .1).

CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with previous IVI have a higher risk of PCR. This is not affected by number of previous injections, indication for injections, or the specialty undertaking the surgery.

}, keywords = {Aged, Cataract Extraction, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Glucocorticoids, Humans, Incidence, Intraoperative Complications, Intravitreal Injections, Lens Capsule, Crystalline, Male, Posterior Capsular Rupture, Ocular, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors, United Kingdom, Visual Acuity}, issn = {1879-1891}, doi = {10.1016/j.ajo.2017.02.006}, author = {Shalchi, Zaid and Okada, Mali and Whiting, Chris and Hamilton, Robin} } @article {1163, title = {{RABIX}: {AN} {OPEN}-{SOURCE} {WORKFLOW} {EXECUTOR} {SUPPORTING} {RECOMPUTABILITY} {AND} {INTEROPERABILITY} {OF} {WORKFLOW} {DESCRIPTIONS}}, journal = {Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing. Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing}, volume = {22}, year = {2016}, pages = {154{\textendash}165}, abstract = {As biomedical data has become increasingly easy to generate in large quantities, the methods used to analyze it have proliferated rapidly. Reproducible and reusable methods are required to learn from large volumes of data reliably. To address this issue, numerous groups have developed workflow specifications or execution engines, which provide a framework with which to perform a sequence of analyses. One such specification is the Common Workflow Language, an emerging standard which provides a robust and flexible framework for describing data analysis tools and workflows. In addition, reproducibility can be furthered by executors or workflow engines which interpret the specification and enable additional features, such as error logging, file organization, optim1izations to computation and job scheduling, and allow for easy computing on large volumes of data. To this end, we have developed the Rabix Executor, an open-source workflow engine for the purposes of improving reproducibility through reusability and interoperability of workflow descriptions.}, issn = {2335-6936}, author = {Kaushik, Gaurav and Ivkovic, Sinisa and Simonovic, Janko and Tijanic, Nebojsa and Davis-Dusenbery, Brandi and Kural, Deniz} } @article {1152, title = {Real-World Use of Open Source Artificial Pancreas Systems.}, journal = {J Diabetes Sci Technol}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Aug 10}, issn = {1932-2968}, doi = {10.1177/1932296816665635}, author = {Lewis, Dana and Leibrand, Scott} } @article {1161, title = {Reliability of infarct volumetry: {Its} relevance and the improvement by a software-assisted approach}, journal = {Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism: Official Journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Despite the efficacy of neuroprotective approaches in animal models of stroke, their translation has so far failed from bench to bedside. One reason is presumed to be a low quality of preclinical study design, leading to bias and a low a priori power. In this study, we propose that the key read-out of experimental stroke studies, the volume of the ischemic damage as commonly measured by free-handed planimetry of TTC-stained brain sections, is subject to an unrecognized low inter-rater and test-retest reliability with strong implications for statistical power and bias. As an alternative approach, we suggest a simple, open-source, software-assisted method, taking advantage of automatic-thresholding techniques. The validity and the improvement of reliability by an automated method to tMCAO infarct volumetry are demonstrated. In addition, we show the probable consequences of increased reliability for precision, p-values, effect inflation, and power calculation, exemplified by a systematic analysis of experimental stroke studies published in the year 2015. Our study reveals an underappreciated quality problem in translational stroke research and suggests that software-assisted infarct volumetry might help to improve reproducibility and therefore the robustness of bench to bedside translation.}, keywords = {experimental stroke, Image analysis, middle cerebral artery occlusion, Neuroprotection, power}, issn = {1559-7016}, doi = {10.1177/0271678X16681311}, author = {Friedl{\"a}nder, Felix and Bohmann, Ferdinand and Brunkhorst, Max and Chae, Ju-Hee and Devraj, Kavi and K{\"o}hler, Yvette and Kraft, Peter and Kuhn, Hannah and Lucaciu, Alexandra and Luger, Sebastian and Pfeilschifter, Waltraud and Sadler, Rebecca and Liesz, Arthur and Scholtyschik, Karolina and Stolz, Leonie and Vutukuri, Rajkumar and Brunkhorst, Robert} } @article {1115, title = {A RESTful interface to pseudonymization services in modern web applications}, journal = {BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making}, volume = {15}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {2}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Medical research networks rely on record linkage and pseudonymization to determine which records from different sources relate to the same patient. To establish informational separation of powers, the required identifying data are redirected to a trusted third party that has, in turn, no access to medical data. This pseudonymization service receives identifying data, compares them with a list of already reported patient records and replies with a (new or existing) pseudonym. We found existing solutions to be technically outdated, complex to implement or not suitable for internet-based research infrastructures. In this article, we propose a new RESTful pseudonymization interface tailored for use in web applications accessed by modern web browsers. METHODS: The interface is modelled as a resource-oriented architecture, which is based on the representational state transfer (REST) architectural style. We translated typical use-cases into resources to be manipulated with well-known HTTP verbs. Patients can be re-identified in real-time by authorized users{\textquoteright} web browsers using temporary identifiers. We encourage the use of PID strings for pseudonyms and the EpiLink algorithm for record linkage. As a proof of concept, we developed a Java Servlet as reference implementation. RESULTS: The following resources have been identified: Sessions allow data associated with a client to be stored beyond a single request while still maintaining statelessness. Tokens authorize for a specified action and thus allow the delegation of authentication. Patients are identified by one or more pseudonyms and carry identifying fields. Relying on HTTP calls alone, the interface is firewall-friendly. The reference implementation has proven to be production stable. CONCLUSION: The RESTful pseudonymization interface fits the requirements of web-based scenarios and allows building applications that make pseudonymization transparent to the user using ordinary web technology. The open-source reference implementation implements the web interface as well as a scientifically grounded algorithm to generate non-speaking pseudonyms.}, isbn = {1472-6947}, url = {http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350982/}, author = {Lablans, Martin and Borg, Andreas and {\"U}ckert, Frank} } @article {983, title = {A RESTful interface to pseudonymization services in modern web applications.}, journal = {BMC Med Inform Decis Mak}, volume = {15}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {2}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Medical research networks rely on record linkage and pseudonymization to determine which records from different sources relate to the same patient. To establish informational separation of powers, the required identifying data are redirected to a trusted third party that has, in turn, no access to medical data. This pseudonymization service receives identifying data, compares them with a list of already reported patient records and replies with a (new or existing) pseudonym. We found existing solutions to be technically outdated, complex to implement or not suitable for internet-based research infrastructures. In this article, we propose a new RESTful pseudonymization interface tailored for use in web applications accessed by modern web browsers.

METHODS: The interface is modelled as a resource-oriented architecture, which is based on the representational state transfer (REST) architectural style. We translated typical use-cases into resources to be manipulated with well-known HTTP verbs. Patients can be re-identified in real-time by authorized users{\textquoteright} web browsers using temporary identifiers. We encourage the use of PID strings for pseudonyms and the EpiLink algorithm for record linkage. As a proof of concept, we developed a Java Servlet as reference implementation.

RESULTS: The following resources have been identified: Sessions allow data associated with a client to be stored beyond a single request while still maintaining statelessness. Tokens authorize for a specified action and thus allow the delegation of authentication. Patients are identified by one or more pseudonyms and carry identifying fields. Relying on HTTP calls alone, the interface is firewall-friendly. The reference implementation has proven to be production stable.

CONCLUSION: The RESTful pseudonymization interface fits the requirements of web-based scenarios and allows building applications that make pseudonymization transparent to the user using ordinary web technology. The open-source reference implementation implements the web interface as well as a scientifically grounded algorithm to generate non-speaking pseudonyms.

}, issn = {1472-6947}, doi = {10.1186/s12911-014-0123-5}, author = {Lablans, Martin and Borg, Andreas and {\"U}ckert, Frank} } @article {1045, title = {The Role of Hospital Information Systems in Universal Health Coverage Monitoring in Rwanda.}, journal = {Stud Health Technol Inform}, volume = {216}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {193-7}, abstract = {

In this retrospective study, the authors monitored the patient health coverage in 6 Rwandan hospitals in the period between 2011 and 2014. Among the 6 hospitals, 2 are third level hospitals, 2 district hospitals and 2 private hospitals. Patient insurance and financial data were extracted and analyzed from OpenClinic GA, an open source hospital information system (HIS) used in those 6 hospitals. The percentage of patients who had no health insurer globally decreased from 35\% in 2011 to 15\% in 2014. The rate of health insurance coverage in hospitals varied between 75\% in private hospitals and 84\% in public hospitals. The amounts paid by the patients for health services decreased in private hospitals to 25\% of the total costs in 2014 (-7.4\%) and vary between 14\% and 19\% in public hospitals. Although the number of insured patients has increased and the patient share decreased over the four years of study, the patients{\textquoteright} out-of-pocket payments increased especially for in-patients. This study emphasizes the value of integrated hospital information systems for this kind of health economics research in developing countries.

}, issn = {0926-9630}, author = {Karara, Gustave and Verbeke, Frank and Nyssen, Marc} } @article {999, title = {Role of OpenEHR as an open source solution for the regional modelling of patient data in obstetrics.}, journal = {J Biomed Inform}, volume = {55}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jun}, pages = {174-87}, abstract = {

This work investigates, whether openEHR with its reference model, archetypes and templates is suitable for the digital representation of demographic as well as clinical data. Moreover, it elaborates openEHR as a tool for modelling Hospital Information Systems on a regional level based on a national logical infrastructure. OpenEHR is a dual model approach developed for the modelling of Hospital Information Systems enabling semantic interoperability. A holistic solution to this represents the use of dual model based Electronic Healthcare Record systems. Modelling data in the field of obstetrics is a challenge, since different regions demand locally specific information for the process of treatment. Smaller health units in developing countries like Brazil or Malaysia, which until recently handled automatable processes like the storage of sensitive patient data in paper form, start organizational reconstruction processes. This archetype proof-of-concept investigation has tried out some elements of the openEHR methodology in cooperation with a health unit in Colombo, Brazil. Two legal forms provided by the Brazilian Ministry of Health have been analyzed and classified into demographic and clinical data. LinkEHR-Ed editor was used to read, edit and create archetypes. Results show that 33 clinical and demographic concepts, which are necessary to cover data demanded by the Unified National Health System, were identified. Out of the concepts 61\% were reused and 39\% modified to cover domain requirements. The detailed process of reuse, modification and creation of archetypes is shown. We conclude that, although a major part of demographic and clinical patient data were already represented by existing archetypes, a significant part required major modifications. In this study openEHR proved to be a highly suitable tool in the modelling of complex health data. In combination with LinkEHR-Ed software it offers user-friendly and highly applicable tools, although the complexity built by the vast specifications requires expert networks to define generally excepted clinical models. Finally, this project has pointed out main benefits enclosing high coverage of obstetrics data on the Clinical Knowledge Manager, simple modelling, and wide network and support using openEHR. Moreover, barriers described are enclosing the allocation of clinical content to respective archetypes, as well as stagnant adaption of changes on the Clinical Knowledge Manager leading to redundant efforts in data contribution that need to be addressed in future works.

}, issn = {1532-0480}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbi.2015.04.004}, author = {Pahl, Christina and Zare, Mojtaba and Nilashi, Mehrbakhsh and de Faria Borges, Marco Aur{\'e}lio and Weingaertner, Daniel and Detschew, Vesselin and Supriyanto, Eko and Ibrahim, Othman} } @article {895, title = {Revolutionizing patient control of health information.}, journal = {Can Fam Physician}, volume = {59}, year = {2013}, month = {2013 Aug}, pages = {823-4}, issn = {1715-5258}, author = {Chan, David and Howard, Michelle and Dolovich, Lisa and Bartlett, Gillian and Price, David} } @conference {774, title = {Research and implementation of Electronic Medical Records Editing System based on CDA}, booktitle = {Consumer Electronics, Communications and Networks (CECNet), 2012 2nd International Conference on}, year = {2012}, month = {april}, abstract = {It is difficult to exchange information between heterogeneous Hospital Information Systems (HIS). It becomes the obstacle of regional medical system establishment. The coming forth of HL7 (Health Level 7) CDA (Clinical Document Architecture) standard provides the technical basic conditions. This paper describes CDA standards and CDA document structure. Through a complete analysis of Electronic Medical Record (EMR), the model of Electronic Medical Records Editing Subsystem is given. Based on this model, functional modules of Electronic Medical Records Editing Subsystem are designed and implemented. Through Electronic Medical Records Editing Subsystem, clinical documents can effectively produce, parse, validate and view. It provides a technical support for exchanges of medical and health information.}, keywords = {CDA document structure, CDA standards, clinical document architecture, document handling, electronic medical records editing system, EMR, health level 7, HIS, HL7, hospital information systems, information exchange, medical information systems, regional medical system establishment}, doi = {10.1109/CECNet.2012.6201451}, url = {http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=\&arnumber=6201451\&contentType=Conference+Publications\&queryText\%3DResearch+and+implementation+of+Electronic+Medical+Records+Editing+System+based+on+CDA}, author = {Lu Xiaoqi and Yu Ning and Gu Yu and Jia Weitao} } @article {902, title = {The rise of open-source electronic health records}, journal = {The Lancet}, volume = {377}, year = {2011}, pages = {1641{\textendash}1642}, url = {http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-79955885166\&partnerID=40\&md5=f959756cb7de6e24377a57a4e54117b0}, author = {Webster, P C} } @article {1082, title = {The rise of open-source electronic health records}, journal = {The LancetThe Lancet}, volume = {377}, year = {2011}, pages = {1641 - 1642}, isbn = {0140-6736}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60659-4}, author = {Webster, Paul C} } @booklet {UCAM-CL-TR-768, title = {Report on existing open-source electronic medical records}, number = {UCAM-CL-TR-768}, year = {2010}, publisher = {University of Cambridge, Computer Laboratory}, abstract = {In this report we provide an overview of existing open-source electronic medical records and assess them against the criteria established by the EViDence group.}, issn = {1476-2986}, url = {http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/techreports/UCAM-CL-TR-768.pdf}, author = {Morrison, Cecily and Iosif, Adona and Danka, Miklos} } @proceedings {508, title = {The Role of Workarounds during an Open Source Electronic Medical Record System Implementation}, year = {2010}, abstract = {A significant degree of customization of medical information technology is required to effectively integrate the promise of IT with the diversity and complexity of medical work. In the absence of such customizations, dissatisfaction and resistance toward the system arise. Indeed, the complexity of the medical work and the inability of software to tailor to the diverse medical practices may explain the limited diffusion of health information systems especially in North America. We study the role of workarounds during an open-source Electronic Medical Record System (EMR) implementation at a medium-size urgent care clinic in a major Canadian city. We found that the technology appropriation process involved the evolving of number of non-trivial workarounds in order to match the EMR to medical work. The emergence of workarounds is conceptualized as a knowledge creation and integration process. This perspective allows us to look at the antecedents and the change dynamics of workarounds in the clinic. Furthermore diverging from the negative view toward workarounds, we discuss the importance of incorporating workarounds during and following system development. The workaround perspective shed the light on how users{\textquoteright} behavior can be channeled into a constructive development effort. This paper contributes by examining the workaround of medical practitioners using an open-source electronic medical record system as well as offering a knowledge perspective for the study of EMR appropriation.}, url = {http://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2010_submissions/47}, author = {Safadi, Hani and Faraj, Samer} } @conference {1099, title = {The Role of workarounds during an OpenSource Electronic Medical Record System Implementation.}, booktitle = {ICIS}, year = {2010}, author = {Safadi, Hani and Faraj, Samer} } @inbook {springerlink:10.1007/978-3-642-12197-5_85, title = {rtMEG: A Real-Time Software Toolbox for Brain-Machine Interfaces Using Magnetoencephelography}, booktitle = {17th International Conference on Biomagnetism Advances in Biomagnetism {\textendash} Biomag2010}, series = {IFMBE Proceedings}, volume = {28}, year = {2010}, note = {10.1007/978-3-642-12197-5_85}, pages = {362-365}, publisher = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg}, organization = {Springer Berlin Heidelberg}, isbn = {978-3-642-12197-5}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12197-5_85}, author = {Sudre, Gustavo and Wang, Wei and Song, Tao and Kajola, Matti and Vinjamuri, Ramana and Collinger, Jennifer and Degenhart, Alan and Bagic, Anto and Weber, Doug J.}, editor = {Magjarevic, R. and Nagel, J. H. and Supek, Selma and Su{\v s}ac, Ana} } @article {19806300, title = {Recent advances in visualization, imaging, and navigation in hepatobiliary and pancreatic sciences.}, journal = {Journal of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery}, year = {2009}, month = {2009 Oct 6}, abstract = {BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Recent introduction of multi-detector CT (MDCT) and high-speed magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have dramatically advanced visualization and imaging technology in diagnostic and therapeutic strategy in hepatobiliary pancreatic disease. However, image diagnostics have progressed with a background of the essence of anatomy, pathology, and physiology. It is important to object the reflection of the patient{\textquoteright}s condition and pathology of each disease and remove pattern recognition in what they were depicted as an image. Visualization plays another important role in various medical diagnostics. Trends in scientific visualization will depend on advancements in molecular technology and computer hardware as well as trends in engineering disciplines. METHODS: In this special issue, the recent advances in visualization and imaging in the field of hepatobiliary and pancreatic sciences are featured including application of advanced visualization techniques, data management, data compression, feature extraction. RESULTS: We discuss the potential benefits of new technologies and procedures in hepatobiliary and pancreatic areas, that are circulating tumor cells, MR imaging for hepatocellular carcinoma, indocyanine green using fluorescence under infrared light observation, carbon dioxide enhanced MDCT virtual cholangiopancreatography, endoscopic ultrasonography-guided biliary drainage, natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery, MR-laparoscopy, and image overlay navigation surgery by OsiriX. CONCLUSION: Some of the recent trends are discussed in terms of visualization and imaging in hapatobiliary and pancreatic sciences. The goal in using visualization is to assist existing scientific procedures by providing new insight through visual representation.}, author = {Sugimoto, Maki} } @conference {1089, title = {Repositories of Reusable Auxological (Growth) Algorithms for eHealth}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Open Source in European Health Care: The Time is Ripe (BIOSTEC 2009)}, year = {2009}, isbn = {978-989-8111-79-1}, doi = {10.5220/0001827900540058}, author = {Petr Lesn{\'y} and Hana Kr{\'a}sni{\v c}anov{\'a} and Tom{\'a}{\v s} Hole{\v c}ek and Kry{\v s}tof Slab{\'y} and Jan Vejvalka} } @article {19745435, title = {Reversible anonymization of DICOM images using automatically generated policies.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {150}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, pages = {861-5}, abstract = {Many real-world applications in the area of medical imaging like case study databases require separation of identifying (IDATA) and non-identifying (MDATA) data, specifically those offering Internet-based data access. These kinds of projects also must provide a role-based access system, controlling, how patient data must be organized and how it can be accessed. On DICOM image level, different image types support different kind of information, intermixing IDATA and MDATA in a single object. To separate them, it is possible to reversibly anonymize DICOM objects by substituting IDATA by a unique anonymous token. In case that later an authenticated user needs full access to an image, this token can be used for re-linking formerly separated IDATA and MDATA, thus resulting in a dynamically generated, exact copy of the original image. The approach described in this paper is based on the automatic generation of anonymization policies from the DICOM standard text, providing specific support for all kinds of DICOM images. The policies are executed by a newly developed framework based on the DICOM toolkit DCMTK and offer a reliable approach to reversible anonymization. The implementation is evaluated in a German BMBF-supported expert network in the area of skeletal dysplasias, SKELNET, but may generally be applicable to related projects, enormously improving quality and integrity of diagnostics in a field focused on images. It performs effectively and efficiently on real-world test images from the project and other kind of DICOM images.}, author = {Onken, Michael and Riesmeier, J{\"o}rg and Engel, Marcel and Yabanci, Adem and Zabel, Bernhard and Despr{\'e}s, Stefan} } @article {1040, title = {The RAFT network: 5 years of distance continuing medical education and tele-consultations over the Internet in French-speaking Africa.}, journal = {Int J Med Inform}, volume = {76}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 May-Jun}, pages = {351-6}, abstract = {

Continuing education of healthcare professionals is a key element for the quality and efficiency of a health system. In developing countries, this activity is usually limited to capitals, and delocalized professionals do not have access to such opportunities, or to didactic material adapted to their needs. This limits the interest of such professionals to remain active in the periphery, where they are most needed to implement effective strategies for prevention and first-line healthcare. Telemedicine tools enable the communication and sharing of medical information in electronic form, and thus facilitate access to remote expertise. A physician located far from a reference center can consult its colleagues remotely in order to resolve a difficult case, follow a continuous education course over the Internet, or access medical information from digital libraries or knowledge bases. These same tools can also be used to facilitate exchanges between centers of medical expertise: health institutions of a same country as well as across borders. Since 2000, the Geneva University Hospitals have been involved in coordinating the development of a network for eHealth in Africa (the RAFT, R{\'e}seau en Afrique Francophone pour la T{\'e}l{\'e}m{\'e}decine), first in Mali, and now extending to 10 French-speaking African countries. The core activity of the RAFT is the webcasting of interactive courses. These sessions put the emphasis on knowledge sharing across care professionals, usually in the form of presentations and dialogs between experts in different countries. The technology used for the webcasting works with a slow (25 kbits/s) internet connection. Other activities of the RAFT network include visioconferences, teleconsultations based on the iPath system, collaborative knowledge bases development, support for medical laboratories quality control, and the evaluation of the use of telemedicine in rural areas (via satellite connections) in the context of multisectorial development. Finally, a strong emphasis is put on the development of capacities for the creation, maintenance, and publication of quality medical didactic contents. Specific courses are organized for the national coordinators of the network to develop these competencies, with the help of the Health-On-the-Net Foundation. The richness of the plurality of knowledge and know-how must be steered towards emulation and sharing, respectful of each partner{\textquoteright}s identity and culture. Collaborations with UNESCO and WHO have been initiated to address these challenges.

}, keywords = {Africa, Computer Simulation, Computer-Assisted Instruction, Curriculum, Education, Distance, Education, Medical, Continuing, Educational Technology, Humans, Internationality, Language, Referral and Consultation, Remote Consultation}, issn = {1386-5056}, doi = {10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2007.01.012}, author = {Geissbuhler, Antoine and Bagayoko, Cheick Oumar and Ly, Ousmane} } @article {17700904, title = {Reflections on the role of open source in health information system interoperability.}, journal = {Yearbook of medical informatics}, year = {2007}, month = {2007}, pages = {50-60}, abstract = {OBJECTIVES: This paper reflects on the role of open source in health information system interoperability. Open source is a driving force in computer science research and the development of information systems. It facilitates the sharing of information and ideas, enables evolutionary development and open collaborative testing of code, and broadens the adoption of interoperability standards. In health care, information systems have been developed largely ad hoc following proprietary specifications and customized design. However, the wide deployment of integrated services such as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) over regional health information networks (RHINs) relies on interoperability of the underlying information systems and medical devices. METHODS: This reflection is built on the experiences of the PICNIC project that developed shared software infrastructure components in open source for RHINs and the OpenECG network that offers open source components to lower the implementation cost of interoperability standards such as SCP-ECG, in electrocardiography. RESULTS: Open source components implementing standards and a community providing feedback from real-world use are key enablers of health care information system interoperability. CONCLUSIONS: Investing in open source is investing in interoperability and a vital aspect of a long term strategy towards comprehensive health services and clinical research.}, author = {Sfakianakis, S and Chronaki, C E and Chiarugi, F and Conforti, F and Katehakis, D G} } @article {17375973, title = {RT_Image: an open-source tool for investigating PET in radiation oncology.}, journal = {Technology in cancer research \& treatment}, volume = {6}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Apr}, pages = {111-21}, abstract = {Positron emission tomography (PET) has emerged as a valuable imaging modality for the diagnosis and staging of cancer. However, despite evidence that PET may be useful for defining target volumes for radiation therapy, no standardized methodology for accomplishing this task exists. To facilitate the investigation of the utility of PET imaging in radiotherapy treatment planning and accelerate its integration into clinical radiation oncology, we have developed software for exploratory analysis and segmentation of functional imaging datasets. The application, RT_Image, allows display of multiple imaging datasets and associated three-dimensional regions-of-interest (ROIs) at arbitrary view angles and fields of view. It also includes semi-automated image segmentation tools for defining metabolically active tumor volumes that may aid creation of target volumes for treatment planning. RT_Image is DICOM compliant, permitting the transfer of imaging data and DICOM-RT structure sets between the application and treatment planning software. RT_Image has been used by radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and radiation physicists to analyze over 200 PET datasets. Novel segmentation techniques have been implemented within this programming framework for therapy planning and for evaluation of molecular imaging-derived parameters as prognostic indicators. RT_Image represents a freely-available software base on which further investigations of the utlity of PET and molecular imaging in radiation oncology may be built. The development of tools such as this is critical in order to realize the potential of molecular imaging-guided radiation therapy.}, author = {Graves, Edward E and Quon, Andrew and Loo, Billy W} } @conference {782, title = {Remote Large Data Visualization in the ParaView Framework.}, booktitle = {EGPGV}, year = {2006}, publisher = {Eurographics Association}, organization = {Eurographics Association}, keywords = {dblp}, isbn = {3-905673-40-1}, url = {http://dblp.uni-trier.de/db/conf/egpgv/egpgv2006.html$\#$CedilnikGMAF06}, author = {Cedilnik, Andy and Geveci, Berk and Moreland, Kenneth and Ahrens, James P. and Favre, Jean M.}, editor = {Heirich, Alan and Raffin, Bruno and dos Santos, Lu{\'\i}s Paulo Peixoto} } @article {15361001, title = {The RODS Open Source Project: removing a barrier to syndromic surveillance.}, journal = {Studies in health technology and informatics}, volume = {107}, year = {2004}, month = {2004}, pages = {1192-6}, abstract = {The goal of the Real-time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (RODS) Open Source Project is to accelerate deployment of computer-based syndromic surveillance. To this end, the project has released the RODS software under the GNU General Public License and created an organizational structure to catalyze its development. This paper describes the design of the software, requested extensions, and the structure of the development effort.}, author = {Espino, Jeremy U and Wagner, Michael M and Tsui, Fu-Chang and Su, Hoah-Der and Olszewski, Robert T and Lie, Zhen and Chapman, Wendy and Zeng, Xiaoming and Ma, Lili and Lu, Zhong Wei and Dara, Jagan} }