Due to an increased number of cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantations and more than 1700 follow-up examinations (FU) per year for ICD-patients, the DEFICARD concept (PC-aided database, multifunctional microprocessor card) was developed at the University Hospital Hannover. The primary aim of DEFICARD was to delegate the FU work to other qualified outpatient clinics and to establish a flexible decentralized ICD-patient management of high quality. Since 11/1993 80 patients have received the DEFICARD and 195 FU visits have been documented up to June 1995. The main purpose of this first test phase of DEFICARD was to establish a standardized ICD documentation by chip card as the fundamental basis of decentralized patient management. Results: Although DEFICARD stores 40% more information than common ICD documentation the first analyses of pooled DEFICARD data showed high completeness (>95% of required parameters). A reduction of inter-physician variability in documentation could be determined (finally <10%). Especially during FU time pressure and standardized DEFICARD documentation caused also standardized examinations and quality-time (+30%). Besides standardization of ICD documentation and FU management a high patients acceptance of the chip card with conscientious handling during FU could be observed. Conclusion: The high patients acceptance and cooperation and the evaluated high quality of standardized ICD documentation are good preconditions for an extended flexible decentralized ICD-patient management supported by DEFICARD.