The Examination Room of the Future
by Thomas Berlage
The 'examination room of the future' is a setting to demonstrate
information technology support for the medical examination situation. Different
approaches from the SCENE project area at GMD are visualized in a common
context: from cardiological training systems to three-dimensional imaging,
from animated 3D heart models to teleconsultation, from medical online
systems to the visualization of pharmacological mechanisms.
This scenario does not separate doctor and patient, but strengthens
their cooperation. The technical installations are hidden. An enabling
system along the walls gives a common orientation for doctor and patient.
The whole room changes into a scenic situation that supports both learning
and communication.
The examination room.
The relation between doctor and patient is central to this design. The
walls are used to provide scenic visualizations related to and derived
from the current examination. The most important points from the patient
record are shown together with images (ultrasound, x-ray) and models. This
surrounding information helps both the doctor and the patient. They can
talk about this common reference and the doctor will use the material as
a communicative reference to give the patient explanations.
Information about certain pathologies or possible therapies can be obtained
from medical online services. Teleconsultation to remote physicians is
possible for case discussion. New interaction techniques (video, gestures,
voice recognition) are required to interact with such a system. Compared
to the current situation, technology does not distract the physician from
the patient, but lets them cooperate.
Even though this particular scenario will not immediately find its way
into medical practice, it provides a vision how technology can really support
human work. Support for lifelong learning is particularly needed for resident
doctors to help them keep up with the progress of medical research. The
SCENE project on the web at:http://www.gmd.de/fit/projects/scene.html
Please contact:
Thomas Berlage - GMD
Tel: +49 2241 2141
E-mail: berlage@gmd.de
