A retrospective evaluation of the development of a telemedicine network in a military setting.
This was a retrospective evaluation of the first 30 months of a new telemedicine network in TRICARE Region Nine. In 1997, the region initiated a telemedicine network with a hub facility at Naval Medical Center, San Diego, providing specialty consultations for remote military treatment facilities in southern California. The region's Internet site, the Referral Management System, was used to schedule and record telemedicine activity, totaling 1,364 cases during the first 30 months of network operation. The rate of telemedicine use increased with the "age" (duration of operation) of both the entire network and of systems at each of five military treatment facilities. The ear/nose/throat specialty accounted for more than 90% of telemedicine activity. Preliminary data indicated that consultations had substantial clinical impact, with 49% of sessions resulting in changed diagnoses. Evaluating telemedicine use in a military setting ashore may guide similar applications for ships at sea.
Melcer
Ted
T
MTS Technologies, Inc., Shirlington Gateway, 2800 Shirlington Road, Suite 1000, Arlington, VA 22206, USA.
Crann
Bobbi
B
Hunsaker
Darrell
D
Deniston
William
W
Caola
Lisa
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States