Output.
Since all report generation ports
are connected to house extensions to allow access to 1) in-house report writers, 2) the FTS network,
and 3) the conmercial telephone network, difficulty in obtaining outside trunk lines is encountered during peak} hospital telephone loads. During these tines, there may be some delay in sending reports to facilities outside this station.
Cost Effectiveness
A cost effectiveness study was carried out at one station (Albany) and the results projected to the entire system. This study showed a six year pay back period. Cardiologist cost reduction was 70% (Normal) to 50% (Abnormal report), while technician and clerical costs were reduced approximately
The two local lines are on a rotary and accessed by four stations via FX lines from their facilities. The third line is accessed by the Albany VAMC via house extensions and by two other stations via the FTS network. The Albany carts can also access the two local lines by utilizing the second call channel which obtains an outside line and dials the local lines. The input load is thus fairly well distributed across- the three available telephone input lines.
Consequently, during peak times (mid-morning and mid-afternoon) "busy" conditions are sometimes encountered by users attempting to input to the system.
COMPUTERIZED ECG NETWORK FOR SEVEN FACILITIES
Joseph R. Tatarczuk
பைடு நூலகம்
V A Medical Center, Albany, NY 12208
System Description
Abstract
The Veterans Administration District 2 has been operating a computerized ECG Network for seven facilities in the district. A central minicomputer is located at the Albany NY VA Medical Center and serves the other facilities via telephone communications. Three facilities are considered "major" sites and have full editing and retrieval capabilities, independent of main CPU location. The four remaining sites receive both preliminary (computer-generated) and edited final reports. The system has been in operation for over a year, and only minor equipment malfunctions have been experienced. Equipment changes or upgrades have been projected to improve service and increase
ECG Input
ECG input is carried out with both Marquette MAC carts and HP carts with 0 & J transmitters. One
station, due to
a
uses a recording cart via a batch mode.
multiple building arrangement, and inputs to the system
Communications
The communications utilized consists of a combination of direct lines, house telephone extensions, local phone lines, foreign exchange phone lines (FX), federal telephone system (FTS), and Bell Tied lines.
Remote Print Out
The four "minor" stations utilize 300 baud mini-
printers for report generation. These printers are also provided in the emergency rooms of two "major" stations for immediate print out of preliminary interpretation.
Report Output. The pMUSE and miniprinter output ports are connected to house extensions which allows the dialing of in-house units, or FTS and FX lines via their respective access codes.
capability.
Introduction
The Veterans Administration District 2, located in upstate New York has been operating a computerized ECG Network since May 1979. The district includes three medical centers of approximately 700 bed capacity, three smaller medical centers, and one outpatient clinic. Present ECG volume for the district is of the order of sixty-five thousand per year. The three larger facilities have full editing and retrieval capability and provide cardiologist overreading of ECGs for the other facilities. A minicomputer situated at the Albany, NY Medical Center communicates with the other sites via the telephone network. The past years experience has shown the equipment to be highly reliable and a good general acceptance of the system by staff. Some difficulties have been encountered on the ECG input area and modifications are now underway. These improvements will increase reliability, reduce manual tasks, and will increase through-put capability. They will also allow additional sites to be brought online without performance degradation.
ECG Input. The three input phone lines are made up of one house extension and two local lines.
U.S. Government work not protected by U.S. copyright.
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Full edit stations are provided at the three "major" sites at Albany, Buffalo, and Syracuse. Each of these consist of a pMUSE microcomputer controlled ECG report and trace generator and a hard copy terminal for other reports and logs. A video terminal is provided for editing and retrieval. This equipment is placed in the Heart Stations at each of the Medical Centers and provides each with the same functionality. The edit terminals operate at 2400 baud and the yMUSE units operate at 1200 baud.