Virtual center for renal support: definition of a novel knowledge-based telemedicine system

The Biomedical Engineering Group of the University of Seville (GIB) is developing new strategies to apply the home health care paradigm within end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. In this paper, we first review the current status of ESRD patients in Spain, Europe and USA. In the second part, a formal definition of the novel virtual center for renal support (VCRS) is provided. The design of VCRS relies on a model-based system analysis methodology. The knowledge-based assistance to be provided by VCRS is carried on the patient physiological image component (PPI component). This is a computing component based on cutting-edge modelling & simulation technology, which gives the physician the ability to predict clinical events, infer technical and physiological problems, compute not previously measured variables and is also an aid for diagnosis, prescription and supervision of therapies.