A Preliminary Report of the Virtual Craniofacial Center: Development of Internet-/Intranet-Based Care Coordination of Pediatric Craniofacial Patients

Matthew D. Goodwin, Leo R. Otake, John A. Persing, Joseph H. Shin
2001 Annals of Plastic Surgery  
The authors present preliminary information regarding the development of an Internet-based Virtual Craniofacial Center that provides access to a patient database with visual and textual data. Patients are photographed by digital camera with standardized images. Through a Web site linked to a remote database, patient demographics, management data, reports, and acquired digital photographic images are stored and retrieved. The database can be used to sort and to present data as desired by
more » ... specialists. Confidentiality is maintained by unique identification numbers and password access to the server for craniofacial team members. The current system uses economical equipment (i.e., digital camera, personal computer with modem, and access to a remote Windows NT-based server), using data that can be entered in a variety of cross-platform personal computer systems and transmitted on a wide range of bandwidths-from a relatively low-bandwidth (28.8 KB per second) modem to a high-speed T-3 line connection. Long-term goals include archival data storage and analysis, as well as the development of multicenter telemedicine links for active craniofacial centers. Goodwin MD, Otake LR, Persing JA, et al. A preliminary report of the virtual craniofacial center: development of internet-/intranet-based care coordination of pediatric craniofacial patients. Ann Plast Surg 2001;46:511-516
doi:10.1097/00000637-200105000-00010 pmid:11352425 fatcat:wv26mxvmmrdqdgzwm76s3ulwvi