Bridging the gap: Leveraging telemedicine and IT infrastructure to connect outpatient oncology practices with specialized expert teams in the management of rare tumors

Abstract

Objectives The treatment of rare tumors often necessitates the involvement of highly specialized teams, typically based in larger medical centers or university hospitals, which are often lacking in rural areas. The German TARGET (the Trans-sectoral Personalized Care Concept for Patients with Rare Cancers) project aims to improve the network between outpatient oncology practices and more centralized expert teams via telemedicine. Methods The primary work involved conceptualizing the implementation of project requirements based on feedback from various TARGET project teams, and ultimately, the method of implementation using the software CentraXX. Key requirements included the utilization of an electronic health record (EHR), incorporating appropriate access mediums such as smartphones, and utilizing user-specific certificates to ensure secure and tailored access. The implementation considered technical aspects, data protection regulations, and the need for user-friendly interfaces, particularly for older patients with cancer with limited technological proficiency. Results The results detail the successful implementation of the project requirements using CentraXX, which facilitated the implementation of an EHR, access mediums (patient app), and browser access for outpatient doctors, addressing the project's technical, security, and usability needs. Conclusion This article presents an overview of the requirements associated with the TARGET project and outlines how they were met in terms of the IT infrastructure. By focusing on the IT implementation rather than the medical trial results, this work aims to provide valuable insights and guidance for similar projects seeking to improve telemedicine networks and digital information exchange in the context of rare cancer treatment.