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News: Newsletter 22

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December 19, 2003

In this newsletter:

  • VASCO's Digipass proves to be huge success in the healthcare sector
  • WolfVision Visualizers offer state of the art picture/videoconferencing quality
  • EUTIST-M: promoting advanced information technologies in medicine
  • VISU: A system for computer aided cranio-facial surgery
  • Telemedicine & eHealth Directory: don't be left out!
  • Don't be left without: make hotel reservations for Med-e-Tel on time!
  • News from the Med-e-Tel media partners
  • Newsbriefs
  • Conferences


VASCO is known as market leader in providing Strong User Authentication to the Banking Sector. Leuven University Hospital proves, together with over 30 healthcare institutions worldwide, that VASCO’s Digipass Strong Authentication tokens can also perfectly be used in the healthcare sector. The Leuven University Hospital uses the VASCO Digipass for an increasing number of applications. LISA, Vlaams Ziekenhuisnetwerk KULeuven and PETNET’s research centre are applications secured by VASCO’s Digipass where a network of hospitals, practitioners, doctors and/or specialists have been given access to patient files or results on researches via the Internet. Remote access is given to hundreds of employees who are now able to enter the hospital’s network wherever they are in a secured way.
A great number of organizations already use VASCO’s Digipass to secure access to their data: UZ Leuven (BE), UZ Antwerp (BE), Sheffield Children’s Hospital (UK), NHSTrust (UK), CHCS (UK), Quality Health (Asia), Ehealthcare Asia, NYC Health (US), Adventist Health (US), MetroHealth (US), St Francis Medical Centre (US) and many others.
For more information, take a look at www.vasco.com or contact .


WolfVision, a technological leader and creative company in the visualizer/document camera market, introduced earlier this year the new portable Visualizer VZ-9.
WolfVision's camera electronics produce a very strong and stable picture, which is very important when a Visualizer is used as a document camera for videoconferencing systems. The even lighting, smooth auto iris and perfect focus are very important features, enabling videoconferencing systems to digitize and transfer the picture from a WolfVision Visualizer much faster than pictures from other document cameras. Furthermore there is no blinding stray light from a WolfVision Visualizer, which could disturb the auto iris of the room camera. Due to features like "turntable" and "Image Flip" the VZ-9 also works perfect as an additional room camera of a videoconferencing system.
In addition to all popular features of the previous WolfVision Visualizers, like image turn mode, 9-picture memory, text enhancement mode, 24-times zoom, continuous autofocus, and infrared remote control with laser pointer, the new VZ-9 also has some sensational new features like the combination of the high resolution of a progressive scan camera and "real time" motion with 30 pictures per second, built-in LCD monitor, turntable mounted unit, able to record objects or people behind and in front of the unit during a presentation, a variety of connections which allow for new features and technical improvements to be added at no cost! More product info can be found at www.wolfvision.com/wolf/port_detail9.html.
Make sure to visit WolfVision at the upcoming Med-e-Tel event in Luxembourg (April 21-23, 2004) to see how the WolfVision Visualizer products can work for you!


EUTIST-M (www.medicaltech.org) is a cluster of 11 projects and 40 partners aiming to promote advanced information technologies in medicine and is financed by the European Commission through its 5th Framework Program for Research and Development. The projects are oriented to dermatology (ADAM; DERMA), cancer screening (AUTOSCREEN), radiology (CREAM; DISMEDI, FRAFEM), intensive care units (IONIC), hearing aid fitting (DEAF), surgery planning (VISU, AQUATICS) and orthopaedics (ISAC).
EUTIST-M will be present at the upcoming Med-e-Tel event in Luxembourg (April 21-23, 2004) to demonstrate finished products or advanced prototype systems in order to facilitate their technology transfer and the respective commercialisation. An additional objective is to make known the possibility for receiving EU-financing for the development of innovative high-tech products. The participation at Med-e-Tel is organised by two of the cluster's Principle Contractors, ENEA Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment (www.enea.it) and CINECA Interuniversitary Computing Centre (www.cineca.it).
The products delivered by the following projects will be demonstrated on the stand of EUTIST-M:
- VISU, a software system for computer aided cranio-facial surgery. VISU enables the surgeon to operate on a virtual model of the patient’s head and to predict the outcome of the real intervention (see also following article in this newsletter for more details).
- AQUATICS, a web-service application dedicated to the planning of the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm. The AQUATICS service consists in the web distribution of 3D models of the aorta reconstructed with a dedicated software.
- DERMA, a software/hardware system for objective monitoring and analysis of skin lesions.
- ITACA, a project from the cluster ASP-BP (www.asp-bp.org), is an Electronic Patient Record (EPR) software system.
- (E)MOTIONS, a project from the cluster EUTIST-AMI (www.eutist-ami.org), is an ASP platform and appropriate tools to analyse human motions in a real-time web environment, enabling medical experts to understand, treat or predict motions of patients.


Craniofacial surgery is a procedure that has not only functional but also esthetical implications that are very important for patients. Computer-based simulation is a key tool for training and testing new procedures to improve final results.
VISU is a software tool that helps surgeons to predict the outcome of cranio-facial surgery, reducing the negative functional and aesthetical impact on the patient’s face. VISU enables surgeons to experiment with different surgical procedures in a virtual environment that simulates the real surgical scenario. Models are obtained from 3D CT scanners and skull and skin are automatically extracted. Virtual operations are performed by means of a virtual scalpel that defines the osteotomy lines on the 3D model, using a haptic device. In this way the interface to the system comes closer to the actual surgical procedures.
VISU runs on a standard PC, requiring around 15 minutes for a complete simulation, and constitutes a training workbench for novel surgeons.
The integration of a distributed data management component allows to further reduce the global time required for the complete surgical planning, enabling surgeons to quickly evaluate different intervention hypotheses, and helping them in the data acquisition and archiving tasks.
With their participation at Med-e-Tel in Luxembourg in April 2004, the VISU project partners are specifically looking for new partners who can assist in the further commercialization of the tool. More info can already be obtained from www-bio.deis.unibo.it/Bioimaging/VISUproject/Index.htm and www.medicaltech.org/success_eng/VISU_ss.pdf.


The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), supporting partner of the Med-e-Tel exhibition and conference, and Med-e-Tel are preparing the second edition of the Telemedicine & eHealth Directory (2004) which will incorporate an updated list of manufacturers and suppliers of telemedicine, telecare and ehealth related products, services and projects.
As such, the directory will provide a one-stop shopping list for organizations, authorities and institutions who are looking to implement new or expand existing telemedicine projects or services.
The Telemedicine & eHealth Directory will officially be presented and distributed at the Med-e-Tel 2004 exhibition and conference in Luxembourg (April 21-23, 2004) and will also be distributed by ITU among their worldwide list of contacts and through their regional offices. The Directory will also be available for consultation on the Internet at the Med-e-Tel (www.medetel.lu) and ITU (www.itu.int) websites.
A listing in the Telemedicine Directory offers great opportunities for worldwide publicity among people who are looking for telemedicine and ehealth products, technologies and services. So if you are a supplier or provider of such products, technologies or services, make sure to be included in this directory and contact us at for more details and a registration form.


Hotel rooms are going fast! Make sure to book your hotel room for your stay in Luxembourg during Med-e-Tel well in advance. Several hotels are already nearing full capacity. Med-e-Tel has negotiated special prices with several hotels in the city. A list of hotels and rates can be found on the Med-e-Tel website. To make reservations at these special rates, use the reservation form that is provided on the website (www.medetel.lu/h_t/hotel.html) and send it back now!
All hotels on the list are located within close proximity of the Med-e-Tel venue, the airport and the city center. For more information, contact us at .


For information on publications, journals, magazines and on-line information services that will help you to stay abreast of what is going on in the field of ehealth and to make better informed decisions in your daily business or healthcare practice, check out the list of Media Partners on www.medetel.lu. To follow is a review of just some of the publications that will be featured at the Med-e-Tel Media Corner during Med-e-Tel 2004 (April 21-23, 2004):
 
- Radcliffe Medical Press publishes high quality books and journals in all aspects of the healthcare sector including those interested in the technology sector. The journal Informatics in Primary Care aims to provide information, help and guidance to all those concerned with information technology and information management in primary care, both nationally and internationally. Informatics is a new and exciting discipline, cutting across medicine, nursing, computing, technology, communications, education, statistics, psychology and sociology, but its primary purpose is the application of information and communications technology to support health care. The journals seeks high-quality material for both researchers and practitioners in the field of primary care informatics, ranging from scientific research papers, through editorials and case studies, to websites, useful tools, reviews and conferences. More info at www.radcliffe-oxford.com.
 
- He@lth Information on the Internet (a Royal Society of Medicine Press publication) is a bimonthly newsletter to meet the growing demand from health professionals for information about health resources available on the internet. For further information on He@lth Information on the Internet, to browse the free archive (from Issue No. 1, published in February 1998, to Issue No. 20, published in April 2001) or to download a free sample issue, go to www.rsm.ac.uk/pub/hii.htm.
 
- The Royal Society of Medicine Press will also be providing information in the Med-e-Tel Media Corner (April 21-23, 2004) about the Teledermatology Guide, Introduction to Telemedicine book and the highly regarded journal in this field: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. To browse the Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare table of contents back to 1996 or to download a free sample issue, go to www.rsm.ac.uk/pub/jtt.htm.
 
- Hospital Post is GIT VERLAG's bi-monthly publication for decision makers in European hospitals - with a circulation of 25,000 copies, from Lisbon to Minsk, and from Oslo to Palermo. It provides a forum to opinion leaders in all healthcare-related fields and covers the major hot issues in medical technology, IT, general management, facility management, and clinical diagnostics. Ask for your free sample at www.hospital-post.com.
 
- In its 23rd year, Management & Krankenhaus addresses 43,000 decison makers in German hospitals each month. Themes covered range from medical technology, IT, general management, facility management, to clinical diagnostics. Readers include leading medics, IT, technical, and facility managers, head administrative staff, and laboratory directors. Free sample upon request at www.management-krankenhaus.de.
 
- Today, healthcare industry analysts contend that the home will soon be the key health delivery site in view of an aging population, many living with chronic diseases, who require multiple and frequent services. Telehealth is a solution to meet 21st century healthcare demands for improved outcomes. Two new books on home telehealthcare applications and services are available from Information for Tomorrow. The first book, Home Telehealthcare: Process, Policy, and Procedures focuses on: cost saving case applications of telecare technologies for patients living with diabetes, with CHF, and with non-healing chronic wounds; appropriate assignment of patients to telehealthcare; staff training and coordination issues; and much more. The second newly released book is Home Healthcare: Wired and Ready for Telehealth, the Nurses’ & Nursing Students’ Edition. It provides a sound introduction to the issues of concern to nurses and nursing students about using new telehealth technology competently and advantageously with home care patients. More information can be found at www.informationfortomorrow.com.


To follow are links to some interesting and recently published articles and studies (if you know of any articles of notice, feel free to send details to and we will include a link in a next newsletter):
- University Hospital pioneers PACS in Lithuania (Diagnostic Imaging)
- Globalization comes to radiology (Diagnostic Imaging)
- Computer Reads Vital Signs (Mobile Health Data)
- Telemedicine and E-learning Put French Communities in Touch (ATSP)
- Understanding the Normalization of Telemedicine Services through Qualitative Evaluation (Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association)
- New solutions address EMR conversion issues (Diagnostic Imaging)
- New Guidelines Help Physicians Choose among Online Patient Communication Options (California HealthCare Foundation)
- Report Concludes What We Already Know: IT Saves Money (Health-IT World)
- Breaking free: the digital transformation of radiology in Israel (Diagnostic Imaging)
- Traveling in PACS (Healthcare Informatics)
- A Second Look at IT Trends (Advance for Health Information Executives)
- Integrating service development with evaluation in telehealthcare: an ethnographic study (British Medical Journal)
- Hospital Connectivity - Impact on Point of Care Testing (Frost & Sullivan)
- PACS: Cost-Benefits - PACS save loney in the long run (Medical Imaging)
- Telemonitors can provide 'virtual assisted living' (Minneapolis Star Tribune)
- New Joint Venture Will Promote Telemedicine in US and Israel (ATSP)
- Recent Advances in Telepsychiatry: An Updated Review (Psychiatric Services)
- Telemedicine market grows with increasing adoption rates (ehealthEDGE)
- Health records put on Internet (BBC News)
- A systematic review of telemonitoring for the management of heart failure (European Journal of Heart Failure)
- UK Begins $4.7B Electronic Patient Records Project (Bio-IT World)
- Telemedicine lets children go home (ElectricNews.Net)
- Internet Summit Looks at Medical Roles (Washington Post)


- The EuroIndia2004 Co-operation Forum on the Information Society, funded by the European Commission, is the fourth in a series of international co-operation events to showcase the European vision on Information Society Technologies (IST) and enrich it further through international cooperation. Taking place on March 24-26, 2004 in New Delhi, India, the EuroIndia2004 programme aims to provide a stimulating mix of plenary presentations, including an opening address by the European Commissioner for Enterprise & Information Society Mr. Erkki Liikanen, and innovative parallel workshops along distinct streams and themes of relevance to Europe and India. EuroIndia2004 is a both a cross-cultural and a cross-sector event, spread across the Information & Communications Technologies landscape. It aims to showcase Key Innovations, Technologies, and Applications & Products that will shape the global Information Society. Experts consider India will emerge as one of the most promising markets for Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) products, services and applications over the next 10 years. The event’s prime focus is to promote Euro-Indian co-operation in ICT and foster business alliances as well as academic and research co-operation. For more information, go to www.euroindia2004.org.
- The ITU Rapporteur's Group on Question 14-1/2 (the "telemedicine question") is also organizing a meeting in New Delhi on February 25-26, 2004. The meeting is organized to use the opportunity of an ASP meeting in order to discuss the work of the Rapporteur's Group on Question 14-1/2 with representatives from many Asian countries which did not often attend the regular meetings in Geneva. Agenda will include discusion on the progress of the preparation of the telemedicine policy paper and of the guidelines on how to formulate an e-health/telemedicine project in a developing country. For more information, contact .

 
 

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