Basics of German teleradiology

The methods and techniques of teleradiology are used in numerous clinical specialties. Several teleradiology projects have been state-aided in Germany over the last 10 years. Using the teleradiology standard proposed by the German Radiology Society, some of these systems are also interoperable. Several techniques are available for realizing teleradiology connections, including Web servers, virtual private networks (VPNs), and e-mail-based solutions. For the establishment of a new teleradiology connection, the needed applications must be analysed in order to find an adequate and cost-effective solution. Legal, financial, and data security aspects must also be taken into account. Legal regulations for the use of teleradiology-guided examinations in Germany demand a high technical and organisational standard for the set-up and the quality control of teleradiology installations.