Low-bandwidth, low-cost telemedicine consultations in rural family practice.
BACKGROUND
Telemedicine, based on the use of interactive video consultations, is being used more commonly in rural settings. This development is potentially important to rural patients because there are fewer physicians, particularly specialist physicians, in rural areas. Declining costs of telemedicine equipment and transmission have created increased access to these technologies for rural family physicians and their patients.


METHODS
This study considers satisfaction levels of rural family physicians, academic-based specialists, and rural patients in 130 consultations between rural physicians, rural patients, and urban academic specialists. To increase the practicability for rural use, low-cost equipment and low-bandwidth digital telephone transmission lines were utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires that were completed by patients, family physicians, and specialist consultants after each consultation.


RESULTS
All categories of participants noted very high levels of satisfaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Telemedicine-based consultations are well accepted by rural patients, rural family physicians, and urban academic specialist consultants. This approach could offer a useful adjunct to rural health care.
Norris
Thomas E
TE
Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle 98195-6340, USA.
Hart
Garu L
GL
Larson
Eric H
EH
Tarczy-Hornoch
Pete
P
Masuda
David L
DL
Fuller
Sherrilynne S
SS
House
Peter J
PJ
Dyck
Sarah M
SM
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008511:Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000523:psychology; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013038:Specialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014861:Washington