title: Telemedicine in Leading US Neurology Departments.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the current practice and plans for telemedicine at leading US neurology departments.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey was sent to department chairs, administrators, or faculty involved in telemedicine at 47 neurology departments representing the top 50 hospitals as ranked by U.S. News and World Report.
  
  
  METHODS
  Current use, size, scope, reimbursement, and perceived quality of telemedicine services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 32 individuals from 30 departments responded (64% response rate). The primary respondents were neurology faculty (66%) and department chairs (22%). Of the responding departments, 60% (18 of 30) currently provide telemedicine and most (n = 12) had initiated services within the last 2 years. Two thirds of those not providing telemedicine plan to do so within a year. Departments provide services to patients in state, out of state, and internationally, but only 6 departments had more than 50 consultations in the last year. The principal applications were stroke (n = 14), movement disorders (n = 4), and neurocritical care (n = 3). Most departments (n = 12) received external funding for telemedicine services, but few departments (n = 3) received payment from insurers (eg, Medicare, Medicaid). Reimbursement (n = 21) was the most frequently identified barrier to implementing telemedicine services. The majority of respondents (n = 20) find telemedicine to be equivalent to in-person care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over 85% of leading US neurology departments currently use or plan to implement telemedicine within the next year. Addressing reimbursement may allow for its broader application.
authors: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA ; University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors: Benjamin P
authors: BP
authors: George
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Scoglio
authors: Jason I
authors: JI
authors: Reminick
authors: Balaraman
authors: B
authors: Rajan
authors: Christopher A
authors: CA
authors: Beck
authors: Abraham
authors: A
authors: Seidmann
authors: Kevin M
authors: KM
authors: Biglan
authors: E Ray
authors: ER
authors: Dorsey
keywords: telehealth; telemedicine; teleneurology
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