The cost-effectiveness of telehealth in metropolitan hospitals.
We established a telehealth link between two inner-city health services about 10 km apart. The video-link between the sites was based on IP videoconferencing; ISDN connections were maintained as a form of system redundancy and to connect to sites beyond the local area network. The cost of a conventional consultation, in which the patient travelled to an outpatient appointment, was 170 Australian dollars. Because existing equipment and telecommunications could be used, the cost of a telehealth consultation was only 74 Australian dollars. During the study approximately 15 teleconsultations were completed and a number of patient transfers were cancelled because they were deemed clinically unnecessary. The preliminary results suggest that the cost-savings from telehealth can be substantial. In addition there were major benefits to continuity of patient care and clinical communication within the organization.
Kitt
Sharon M
SM
Bayside e-Health, The Alfred, Victoria, Australia.
Clayton
Lexie
L
D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000191:economics; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics*; D014739:Victoria