Effectiveness of distance electrocardiographic consultation network for regional primary medical institutions / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of regional electrocardiographic consultation network for primary medical institutions.Methods A distance electrocardiographic ( ECG ) consultation center was established in Yuyao People′s Hospital in September 2012, which was connected to 56 regional primary medical through internet.The online consultation was provided by ECG specialists in the center for general practitioners in regional primary health care institutions.Additionally, the ECG training course was also conducted monthly for general practitioners.The 2-year data of ECG consultation were retrospectively reviewed and the effectiveness of the consultation network was evaluated.Results During the past two years, 86 593 electrocardiograms were uploaded by primary medical institutions, in which 3 976 were required for consultation. The monthly number of electrocardiograms sent by general practitioners was increased from 3 269 ±290 in the first year to 3 947 ±376 in the second year ( P<0.01 ) .However, the requirements of ECG consultation were not significantly different between two years.Compared to the first year, the rates of consultation requirements, misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis for ECGs of atrial and ventricular premature beats, atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia, left and right bundle branch blocks,ⅠandⅡdegree atrioventricular blocks and myocardial infarction were significantly decreased ( all P<0.05) in the second year;meanwhile there was a tendency towards the reduction for ECGs of atrial flutter and Ⅲ degree atrioventricular block in the second year.Conclusion The regional electrocardiographic consultation network is effective to improve the capability of primary medical institutions in electrocardiographic diagnosis.