title: Effectiveness of telemedicine in the outpatient pulmonary clinic.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Over the past several years, there has been a resurgence of interest in telemedicine. Despite this renewed interest, some health care providers remain skeptical regarding the effectiveness of telemedicine for the delivery of health care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this prospective, crossover study was to determine if there was any difference between care delivered using video conferencing-based telemedicine technology and that given by a traditional face-to-face encounter in a pulmonary medicine clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two pulmonologists sequentially examined 40 individuals via video conferencing-based telemedicine technology and by the traditional face-to-face method. Two additional pulmonologists, in a blinded fashion, compared the results for consistency in the history, examination with focus on auscultation of the lungs, diagnostic impression, and evaluation and treatment plans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Evaluation of patients by telemedicine was as effective as the traditional mode. The telemedicine physician and the physician examining the patient in the traditional manner were able to elicit the same key complaints and hear the same adventitious sounds on auscultation of the lungs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Telemedicine can enable the provision of high-quality care in a pulmonary clinic setting.
authors.affiliation: The Telemedicine Center and the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Pacht
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gailiun
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Violi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ralston
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Mekhjian
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: St John
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001314:Auscultation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation; D012135:Respiratory Sounds / Q000175:diagnosis; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013685:Telecommunications