Can telemedicine be used to improve communication between primary and secondary care?
OBJECTIVE
To test feasibility and acceptability of teleconferencing routine outpatient consultations.


METHODS
Exploratory trial of teleconferenced outpatient referrals of general practitioners.


METHODS
An inner city teaching hospital and surrounding general practices.


METHODS
Six general practices linked to hospital outpatient clinics.


METHODS
Levels of participants' satisfaction measured with self administered questionnaires.


RESULTS
54 teleconsultations were performed in 10 different specialties. Few serious technical problems were encountered, and high levels of satisfaction with the consultations were reported by patients, hospital specialists, and general practitioners.


CONCLUSIONS
Teleconferenced consultations for routine outpatient referrals with joint participation of general practitioner were feasible. These may have an important potential benefit for improving communication between primary and secondary care.
Harrison
R
R
Department of Primary Care and Population Sciences, Royal Free Hospital, University College Schools of Medicine, London.
Clayton
W
W
Wallace
P
P
D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013222:State Medicine; D006113:United Kingdom