Structured electronic message exchange for physiotherapists

Abstract

Background: Since physiotherapists are also starting to store their patient data in an digital format, the need for structured physiotherapy records became apparent. Especially the communication with the prescribing physician, both for the prescription as for the therapy report appear to be crucial aspect in the health care delivery process. Objective: The objective of this study was to come up with a model for the data exchange between electronic record systems for medical doctors and physiotherapists. More specifically was the content of the exchanged messages was determined. Methods: In the context of the development of structured electronic physiotherapy system we designed a server based model for the exchange of data between electronic record systems for physicians and that of physiotherapists. The data exchange is done using two newly defined XML messages, the physiotherapy prescription and the physiotherapy report. Results: We succeeded in defining all the necessary building blocks, needed within the proposed framework of structured physiotherapy records for the exchange of data and communication with other health care parties, in particular prescribing physicians. Conclusions: Although many of the building blocks are present the real challenge lies in the implementation of the model. Via certification procedures, the commercial software systems for physiotherapist will embed the proposed framework and communication with already existing systems will be established. Another key aspect of the model lies in persuading the end-users, the physiotherapists to start using the system.