Plan for installation of an automatic system of analysis of electrocardiograms for a group of hospitals and a regional cardiological record office
Spadaccini, F.
Minerva Medica 67(48): 3139-3152
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 792730 Document Number: 97496
In view of the present state of the Central ECG Department serving the "San Giovanni" group of hospitals in Turin and in consideration of the ever growing number of ECG's required daily, a reorganization of the department has become necessary. Such a reorganization must be based on the latest facilities offered by electronic engineering, namely by means of automating the entire system. Various manufacturers offer proven equipment and the only problem is one of choosing that most suitable for requirements. Personally, the on line system is considered to be best although many are opposed to it, because it is the only system that makes it possible to answer urgent demands in real time. The material collected by this Centre and by others that must of necessity arise in the Region of Piedmont, should not be dispersed but filed so that it can be employed for further controls and for statistical and epidermiological research. It therefore becomes necessary to set up a large central file at Regional level capable of storing ECG findings and all historical, clinical and laboratory data pertaining to patients who come into contact with the System. On request, it must also be capable of processing stored data and furnishing print-outs of data through video terminals for the purposes of subsequent examinations and continuations of treatment, as well as for clinical or statistical research reasons. Such a file would represent a veritable cardiological register for Piedmont and the first step on the way to the impellent creation of a Sanitary Register of the whole population.