title: Teleradiology for remote consultation using iPad improves the use of health system human resources for paediatric fractures: prospective controlled study in a tertiary care hospital in Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The growing cost of health care and lack of specialised staff have set e-Health high on the European political agenda. In a prospective study we evaluated the effect of providing images for remote consultation through an iPad on the number of in-hospital orthopaedic consultations for children with bone fractures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Children from 0 to 18 years diagnosed with a bone fracture by the radiologist during the hours when an orthopaedic service is provided only on-call were eligible for enrollment. Cases were enrolled prospectively during September and October 2013. A standard approach (verbal information only, no X-Ray provided remotely) was compared to an experimental approach (standard approach plus the provision of X-ray for remote consultation through an iPad). The primary outcome was the number of orthopaedic in-hospital consultations that occurred. Other outcomes included: immediate activation of other services; time needed for decision-making; technical difficulties; quality of images and diagnostic confidence (on a likert scale of 1 to 10).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two children were enrolled in the study. Number of in-hospital consultancies dropped from 32/42 (76.1%) when no X-ray was provided to 16/42 (38%) when the X-rays was provided (p < 0.001). With remote X-ray consultation in 14/42 (33.3%) cases services such as surgery and plaster room could be immediately activated, compared to no service activated without teleradiology (p < 0.001). Average time for decision making was 23.4 ± 21.8 minutes with remote X-ray consultation, compared to 56.2 ± 16.1 when the X-ray was not provided (p < 0.001). The comparison between images on the iPad and on the standard system for X- Ray visualisation resulted in a non statistically significant difference in the quality of images (average score 9.89 ± 0.37 vs 9.91 ± 0.30; p = 0.79), and in non statistically significant difference in diagnostic confidence (average score 9.91 ± 0.32 vs 9.92 ± 0.31; p = 0.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Remote X-ray consultation through Aycan OsiriX PRO and iPad should be considered as a means for reducing the need of in-hospital orthopaedic consultation during on-call times, and potentially decrease the cost of care for the health system. In the future, alternative systems less expensive than Aycan OsiriX PRO should be further developed and tested.
authors: Floriana
authors: F
authors: Zennaro
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Grosso
authors: Riccardo
authors: R
authors: Fascetta
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Marini
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Odoni
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Di Carlo
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Dibello
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Vittoria
authors: Unit Of Research on Health Services and International Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy. marzia.lazzerini@burlo.trieste.it.
authors: Marzia
authors: M
authors: Lazzerini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D003657:Decision Making; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007558:Italy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019112:Teleradiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors