40 Computer-Aided Screening Program Management in Audiology and Cardiology

Screening programs have been part of the healthcare systems of various Western countries since the beginning of 20th century, however over time the idea of screening matured. While the basic aim is still the same: to reduce the health risk for the patient and improve long term health of a population, the scope and methodology have changed. Modern screening programs are based on sound evidence, better planned and designed, and more complex. As this complexity increases and diagnostics tools evolve, the need to use IT solutions becomes apparent. The main goal of such a system is to support screening programs at all stages: from the target group selection, to collecting, evaluating and analyzing collected information. Such IT solutions also address the needs associated with managing screening programs, such as monitoring and auditing, and help to maintain quality assurance of the research program. This study presents a complete software-hardware solution that addresses all the challenges listed above. The use-cases and functionalities of the solution are presented based on exemplary deployment in the audiology and cardiology fields for better illustrating of its capabilities.