Digital Image Exchange Improves Emergency Care in Border Region Right care at the right place when every minute counts – even across borders

13 December 2023

Digital exchange of patient images between Radboudumc and the Westdeutscher Teleradiologieverbund network leads to improved emergency care in the border region between the Netherlands and Germany. Patients in need of specific neurological emergency care can now be treated more quickly because their medical data across the border is more easily accessible. This is now also frequently used for planned care.

For patients in need of complex neurological emergency care, rapid treatment is crucial, and the nearest trauma center is sought, even if it is across the (national) border. Every year, healthcare institutions in the border region see multiple patients for whom this fast (and complex) care is necessary. This includes cases such as strokes, brain and heart attacks, and accidents involving (severe) brain injuries.
 

Photo sitting from left to right: dr. Ewoud van Dijk, collega LVR kliniek Bedburg Hau, prof. Jeroen Boogaarts

Photo standing from left to right: Marja de Waal, dr. Anil Tuladhar, dr Christoph Baumsteiger, Ingrid Seinen, prof. Frank Erik de Leeuw

Sharing Patient Data

Digital image and data exchange increases the efficiency and effectiveness of treatments because doctors have faster access to relevant patient data, such as X-rays. This enables them to act more quickly, ensures the right team is ready for the patient, and eliminates the need for unnecessary new tests.

"In patients with a clot in the brain vessels, a so-called stroke, or with brain injury due to an accident, swift treatment is necessary. Every minute we don't treat in such a situation means 1.9 million fewer brain cells. A good and rapid transfer of data saves crucial time. In recent years, we have seen more and more patients from the nearby border region with specific complex healthcare needs, as Radboudumc is the nearby academic hospital. These patients directly experience the benefits of the good collaboration." Prof. Dr. Jeroen Boogaarts, neurologist at Radboudumc.

Good System Integration

Crucial to digital data exchange is that the systems and processes are well integrated. This requires good coordination and agreements between all parties involved.
Initially focused only on emergency care, now planned care also extensively utilizes this service. This benefits efficient healthcare for residents on both sides of the border.
With this service and the strong collaboration, Radboudumc, LVR clinic & KKLE, along with their partners including the Westdeutscher Teleradiologieverbund (WDTV) network and Alphatron Medical Systems, take a significant step toward providing the right care at the right place for the patient, regardless of geographical borders.

Dr. med Christoph Baumsteiger, Chief Physician at LVR-Klinik Bedburg-Hau Clinic for Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, says, "For people in the border region, this longstanding and trusting collaboration is a great asset, practically life-saving. It is fantastic that image data can now also be sent via the Westdeutscher Teleradiologieverbund between Radboudumc and Bedburg-Hau/Kleve. This further optimizes the already very good collaboration. We are very happy about this. Many thanks for this."

"Digital data exchange and the shortest possible transport time of patients to a hospital for optimal care offer significant advantages, especially in situations where time plays a crucial role," says Prof. Dr. Sebastian Gehrmann, Chief Physician of the Clinic for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery at the Catholic Karl Leisner Hospital. This hospital is certified as a regional trauma center and is the only one in the Kleve district. Dr. Ronald Jelinski, Medical Director of the central emergency department at St. Antonius Hospital Kleve, adds, "Shorter transport times also mean less pressure on the regional ambulance service, making them available again more quickly."

Background

The healthcare institutions have been collaborating for a long time. Thanks in part to the good and pleasant collaboration with Nictiz, VWS, Alphatron, Medecon Telemedizin GmbH (VISUS), and the Katholischen Karl Leisner Klinikum in Kleve and LVR clinic in Bedburg-Hau, the connection of digital systems could be realized in a relatively short time. This further improves patient care and relieves healthcare providers.

"As supporters of the frontline, we work hard every day to make healthcare better and more efficient. This is a leap forward for cross-border neurological emergency care. The realization of this makes you realize what we are all working for," says Marja de Waal, Applications Specialist Image and Care (information management, Radboudumc).

"This is a great example of how digitization can contribute to improved patient care. It also brings a lot of efficiency for healthcare providers. It shows that it is possible to make data more easily accessible for healthcare providers and how they can avoid duplicate work and time loss. It was an exciting process because we had to align the needs, processes, and systems of the German clinics with our own. This requires good agreements at the front end with all parties involved. It's great that it worked out and that patients and healthcare providers can directly experience the (positive) consequences," says Ingrid Seinen, project leader at Radboudumc International Patient Office. Ingrid is also the project leader and initiator of this project.

It is also a practical example according to the guidelines of the Integrated Care Agreement for Collaboration (Integraal Zorgakkoord) demonstrating how digitization in healthcare can ensure good accessibility and efficiency. 

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