title: Videoconferencing to enhance the integration between clinical medicine and teaching: a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to analyze the feasibility of a setting up of a radiotherapy department using videoconferencing technology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A videoconferencing network was started to link an academic center of radiotherapy to a peripheral center of research at the start of its activity. Two years of data of involved professionals, subjects of links, audio, video link problems and running costs were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 418 links was established for an overall duration of 458 hours. The participants included all departmental staff. Videoconferencing involved teaching, ward organization, medical care and scientific subjects. In the second year ofexperience, the number of videoconferencing links was higher than the first (232 vs 186). Link times were reasonable for both skilled and unskilled operators. Overall, the cost per minute of link was 0.2 Euro, and the mean cost per link was 13 Euros. Videoconferencing was integrated with fax and computer networks to enhance sharing paper and electronic documents. Audio-video technical problems progressively decreased: the link was definitively interrupted or its activation unfeasible in only 1.0% of cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience suggests that the establishment of a link between radiotherapy departments addressed to these aims is feasible by a videoconferencing network.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiotherapy Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli", Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessio G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Morganti
authors.forename: Lino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pasquarelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Deodato
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Digesù
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Falco
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dinapoli
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Macchia
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Picardi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tagliaferri
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Numa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cellini
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D020375:Education, Distance / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D013663:Teaching; D049269:Videoconferencing