CHAPTER 2 What an HCM System Must Be Capable of 27
Remember: the key function of an HCM system is its ability to place
data in a discipline-specific, i.e. medical, context and to optimize it for
the use in a medical environment. This is what distinguishes an HCM
system from »generic« systems, which host data regardless of the application
context. The goal is to serve the different needs of users in
medical facilities and as a result facilitate the daily work of all users.
The capability to display all case-related data
uniformly and simultaneously
It’s good news that medical data is available completely, case-related and regardless
of its format. It would be even better news if all data could be displayed on
only one screen, ideally wherever it is needed at any given time. This necessitates
a so-called multi-format viewer, i.e. a viewer that can simultaneously display data
of different formats, for example side by side. Such a multi-format viewer is an
essential component of an HCM system, because it is the only way to ensure uniform
and simultaneous access to the consolidated data enabling the added value
of the HCM concept to unfold: the holistic view of a case or a patient.
It is mandatory for the multi-format viewer to be able to display the following data:
✔✔ images (radiological data as well as wound images, for example)
✔✔bio-signals (ECGs, pulmonary function data, etc.)
✔✔documents (findings reports, notes, etc.)
Playback of video and audio files is nice to have, but not mandatory yet.
The ability of classification
Before we go ahead, let’s have a look at the »good old days« of analog: the paper
based file. This follows a tried and true and, above all, learned system every
employee in a healthcare facility knows how to deal with. An important feature
of paper-based files is the classification of documents, which ensures an unambiguous
assignment of information. It is only through classification that data can
be identified because it determines what to look for in the first place.
Another quality feature of an HCM system is that it translates that classification
into the digital world. This not only increases user acceptance, but also ensures
that no therapy-relevant information is being overlooked.