Fax/modem board communications decrease preceptor communication costs.
BACKGROUND
Mail and the telephone are common communication links between departments of family medicine and their community-based preceptors. The availability of low-cost fax/modem boards offers the potential for new communication methods. This study compares the cost of personal computer-based fax/modem board communications with traditional mail and telephone linkages.


METHODS
The department's community preceptor faculty served as the study population. Sixty-eight physicians (54%) had fax machines; these physicians received faxes instead of mailed communications. The remaining 59 physicians (46%) received mailed communications. All preceptors received standard telephone calls. Costs for telephone, mail, and fax/modem board communications were tracked over a 4-month period.


RESULTS
Faxes were significantly less expensive and more efficient than either telephone or mail communications. Telephone communications were the most expensive.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that fax/modem boards offer a communication linkage with preceptors that is more economical than either mail or telephone.
Cole
D R
DR
Department of Family Medicine, UMDMJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark.
Johnson
M S
MS
Heaton
C J
CJ
Petti
M
M
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D011177:Postal Service / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016636:Telefacsimile / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013689:Telephone / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data