Telematics

Data and Facts
Telematics, the use of modern telecommunications and information technologies opens a wide range of new possibilities in the health care system as well as in health research. A study commissioned by the BMBF and the Federal Ministry for Health (BMB) and performed in 1997 came to the conclusion that improvement of medical capabilities while limiting costs will be possible in the future only through wide-ranging use of telematic solutions.
Telematics is an important tool for cooperation and communication. This applies in particular to the performance of clinical or epidemiological studies through cooperation between multiple research centres and for information transfer from research results to patient care. Electronic data transfer significantly simplifies and accelerates processes for the publication of patient information. In addition, telematics offers a number of additional applications, such as for visualisation procedures in medicine or the simulation of surgical procedures on the computer.

The use of telematics in medicine has proven itself in many research and model projects, information systems for hospitals and doctors' practices are widely available. Despite the quality and efficiency improvement sought in research and care, widespread practical implementation has not yet taken place; the interorganisational exchange of information is still largely organised in conventional ways.

There are a number of reasons for this. Information and communication technology develops at a rapid pace. The adaptations to legal regulations required for use of the technology can hardly keep up with this development. In addition, telematics involves significant investment costs that are only paid with hesitation. This is because no permanent solutions can be offered due to dynamic technical innovation.

The use of telematics in the health care system and health research has therefore often been locally or regionally limited. In order to achieve widespread use, the solutions developed in individual clinics, cities and regions must be evaluated and a new concept must be developed on this basis and with the agreement of all participants.

What Does the BMBF Do? 
The Telematic Platform for Medical Research (TMF)
For these reasons, the BMBF founded the Telematic Platform for Medical Research Networks of the BMBF (TMF) in 1999. The TMF forms a platform for the development, coordination and harmonisation of solutions resulting from information technology requirements of research within the framework of large consortium projects in clinical research. The telematic platform should allow the creation of a uniform standard and help reduce the use of resources through the development of generally applicable solutions. To date, nine competence networks for performance of interdisciplinary research projects on special disease types, three infection epidemiology networks and eight coordination centres for clinical studies as well as additional research consortia participate in the TMF.
Another goal of the TMF is to establish interdisciplinary and location-independent cooperation within these research networks. Workgroups of physicians as well as information and communications experts are working on the topics of quality assurance, data privacy and data protection, the use of various IT components and tools to improve efficiency and quality as well as organisational structures.

Additional Telmatics Applications in Health Research
In addition to structure improvements, the innovative use of IT in medicine is also intended by the Health Research Programme. One aspect, for example, is the use of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in medicine. Virtual reality is the simulation of reality by a computer. Augmented realities make it possible to display virtual information within the real field of vision of an observer and to superimpose it over real images.

Such applications are of great interest not only for the training of doctors but also for the planning of therapy, particularly in radiation therapy or for teleconsulting by experts. The use of VR and AR is funded within the scope of projects on surgery and radiological oncology.

Another focus is the improvement of logistics and the care of patients through telematics. A research consortium was established as a competence centre that seeks to improve accident care based on more efficient initial care supported by IT systems. Another competence centre is concerned with post-clinical care. Telematic services should make possible the monitoring and documentation of vital statistics as well as detection of emergencies for patients or convalescents in their own home.