“A bespoke software package designed to monitor the outcomes of heart treatments in patients across Europe and Russia has been launched by UK software developers, altcom. The launch was held in St. Petersburg at a conference attended by leading cardiologists collaborating in an international epidemiological study into factors affecting and leading to heart failure. … The new software system has been developed using Open Source technologies and being a web-based application, a modern web browser and Internet connection are all that is required to use it. The data collected through the project is stored centrally on a secure server in the UK and the database will eventually contain details of around 2,000 patients studied over the length of the project. Various safeguards have been put in place to ensure the integrity and security of the database, and all data held centrally is made anonymous to ensure patient confidentiality and comply with data protection legislation.”