title: Third generation cellular multimedia teleconsultations in plastic surgery.
abstract: We conducted a study to test whether new third generation (3G) mobile phones could be integrated into service as a working tool between plastic surgeons. During an eight-month period, 58 multimedia consultations were performed involving 57 patients. The majority of the consultations were for trauma or wounds. All consultations comprised a digital photograph taken with the integrated camera and sent via the Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). In 86% of the cases the residents reported that multimedia information contributed to their ability to independently handle similar cases in future. Satisfaction scores were high among all participants. We believe that a multimedia consultation in a hospital setting adds information to an ordinary telephone call, thus decreasing medico-legal risks. We recommend it for routine use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer 52621, Israel. farbern@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nimrod
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Farber
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Haik
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liran
authors.forename: Oren
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Weissman
authors.forename: Eyal
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Winkler
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019212:Multimedia; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods*; D013518:Surgery, Plastic / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000592:standards*