Sports medicine software: Monitoring at the push of a button

Athletes not only have to be fit and stay in shape, but they also have to achieve peak performance, especially when they get ready for athletic events. Optimized and individualized performance training requires data from external laboratories and institutes. The [i/med] Sports platform from DORNER Health IT Solutions provides a complete workflow − from anamnesis to diagnostic report.

In this MEDICA.de interview, Alexander Eisfeld describes the new features of the [i/med] Sports software and explains how the solution and the so-called "planning table" work. He also shows the software benefits for athletes, physicians and coaches and reveals where it is already being implemented with great success.

What are the new features of your [i/med] Sport software?

Alexander Eisfeld: The [i/med] Sport technology maps the workflow of sports medicine outpatient services from anamnesis to diagnostic report. German track and field athletes also use it as a tool for regular monitoring as part of training camps and sporting events such as international competitions. It is also a popular method to transfer all generated data in the database into Microsoft Word templates at the push of a button. Recommendations for training, medical notes and performance sheets can be mostly created automatically.

What categories are athlete and patient data divided into?

Eisfeld: That depends on the institute that uses the software solution. Data classification is based on the respective category and comprises individual performance or examinations. For example, the "Corporate Health" category can be composed of services such as anthropometric measurements, meaning the scientific study of the measurements and proportions of the human body, echocardiography and resting ECG (heart rate).

How does the software solution work?

Eisfeld: It is a browser-based web portal, which means that users can directly access it from anywhere. Athlete-specific data, laboratory test results, and other medical data are collected in the athlete’s [i/med] Sport file. The data is available in a way that allows further processing in documents, forms, and operating processes, and can be transmitted to the respective support teams, associations and partners.

What exactly is the live overview of ongoing exams and processes, also called the "planning table"?

Eisfeld: The "planning table" is our waiting room overview, which specifies the present outpatients in the clinic and lists their scheduled exams. The examinations are color-coded to indicate whether they have already been performed, are ongoing or already completed. Examinations without patient participation such as laboratory tests, are hidden, but can also be displayed as an option. The responsible physician, the wait times since arrival in the outpatient facility and the last examination are also displayed. The wait times are highlighted if they exceed an upper limit. This allows for a smooth medical workflow.

What are the benefits of [i/med] Sport for athletes?

Eisfeld: An indirect benefit is the efficiency of the institute that treats the athlete. Athletes benefit directly when the institute uses the software solution. A medical history questionnaire can be quite extensive and comprehensive in sports medicine. Athletes can already fill out the form on their computer at home prior to the appointment or on their smartphone on their way to the outpatient clinic. The benefit of the software solution is even more evident for athletes as it pertains to training guidelines or doctor notes. The treating doctor only takes five minutes to create this note and is able to offer training recommendations to the athlete immediately after the final consult.

How can physicians and coaches benefit?

Eisfeld: It is worth mentioning that the medical history data is stored in the respective database fields, where the system automatically analyzes it. This is a bidirectional exchange of patient, examination and billing data, meaning data is transferred in both directions, to physician and hospital information systems (HIS) and vice versa. The software solution can also collect and save data from various devices regardless of the manufacturer, for example ECG, ultrasound, lung function and ergometer. It can also be easily adapted to different system environments. Another benefit for physicians and coaches is that the software can be connected to internal and external laboratory systems, thus enabling a faster diagnosis. Documents can be generated automatically based on default Word templates and audit-proof management and approval, which saves time.  The other advantage is flexible billing based on status and billing interface to the associations, for example the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and external health care providers. The software solution also has a translation feature, thus facilitating international use. In addition, the [i/med] Organizer appointment calendar helps sports physicians and support teams to schedule and coordinate appointments.

Why can the software solution be connected to all devices and laboratories regardless of the manufacturer?

Eisfeld: We have been in software development for the healthcare sector for nearly 40 years. Apart from applications in sports medicine and science-based training, our solutions are also used in other fields including laboratory medicine, microbiology laboratories, transfusion medicine, forensic medicine and many other areas. This is where communication with third-party devices or software is critical. Over the decades, we have leveraged common formats such as HL7, GDT, LDT, CSV and XML, giving us an edge and enabling us to serve multiple interfaces.

Which medical facilities are already successful in using the software solution?

Eisfeld: [i/med] Sport is routinely being used at the Institute for Applied Training Sciences (IAT) in Leipzig, at the Center for Prevention and Sports Medicine at the Technical University of Munich, at the Charité Berlin Department of Sports Medicine and the Department of Sports, Exercise and Health (DSBG) at the University of Basel.

How much does the [i/med] Sport software solution cost?

Eisfeld: There is a software license fee besides service costs pertaining to installation and parameterization. We also always recommend software maintenance that covers a range of services and modifications and includes future updates.