An automated ECG system in a large hospital: coding, storage and retrieval of tracings

This paper describes an automated ECG-system as it is used in the 1000-bed University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands. The system involves a "hybride" approach, combining computer analysis of the ECG by means of the Pipberger program with the reading by a cardiologist via a specially developed coding system. Up until now (since January 1, 1972) 35,000 ECGs have been handled systematically at a rate of approximately 100 ECGs per working day. All the ECGs, together with the ECG-diagnoses and other relevant data of the patient are stored and can be retrieved whenever wanted. The system enables comparison of computer analysis and cardiologist's reading of the ECG. The boundary between reliable computer analysis and the necessity of human reading and verification lies with the normal ECGs. This apparently meagre result of the computer ECG-analysis for hospital use is, however, a great achievement for its use in epidemiological studies