Effect of telemedicine on patients' diagnosis and treatment.
We conducted a post-consultation survey during 1998-2002 (n = 412 consultations) in the Rural Hospital Telehealth Project run by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Changes in the patient's diagnosis and treatment plan as a result of the telemedicine session were assessed. There were 47 consultants, who conducted 2-82 consultations each. The teleconsultants established a diagnosis in 74 consultations. This was 26% of the 286 respondents. Of the 63 respondents for cases where there was a prior diagnosis and a change was applicable, 17 consultants (27%) reported that there was a change in the patient's diagnosis. The consultants established a patient treatment plan in 139 consultations. This was 52% of the 268 respondents. Of the 123 respondents for cases where there was a prior treatment plan and a change was applicable, 82 (67%) consultants reported a change in the treatment plan. The changes in diagnosis and management imply benefits for the rural population in Arkansas as a result of the use of telemedicine.
Bynum
Ann B
AB
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204-1611, USA. bynumcarola@uams.edu
Cranford
Charles O
CO
Irwin
Cathy A
CA
Banken
Joseph A
JA
D001131:Arkansas; D003933:Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D012423:Rural Health; D013812:Therapeutics