Logistical aspects of large telemedicine networks. 1: Site directories

Abstract

We carried out a survey of the site coordinators in a mature telemedicine network of about 200 sites. The site directory contained information about 221 videoconference facilities. There were 191 site coordinators in all (i.e. some coordinators were responsible for more than one site). Of the 221 sites, we were able to contact 87 on first attempt and 155 by the fourth attempt. Thus there were 66 sites (30%) which were not contactable. We asked each site coordinator to describe any videoconference activity that had taken place over the previous five working days. Of the contacted 155 sites, 78 reported some videoconference activity during the period in question. The total reported videoconference activity was 12,800 min during the one-week monitoring period, that is, an estimated 924 h per month. The most common categories of work were education or training (511 h) and management or administration (225 h), which between them accounted for 80% of all reported videoconference activity. Fifty of the 155 sites (32%) reported that the equipment was not located in an area suitable for patient consultations. In addition, 20 sites (13%) volunteered that their videoconferencing facilities were not in working order at the time of the survey. We did not ask this question in the survey, so that this result represents a lower bound for the true number of inoperable systems.

Education through telemedicine networks: setting quality standards

“…10,11 Telemedicine improves access to high-quality care and assists with recruitment and retention of primary care providers in underserved areas, 12 enhancement of interdisciplinary communication 13,14 and education. [15][16][17] Education through telemedicine networks is offered in a variety of formats, such as lectures delivered through satellite broadcasts to multiple sites, interactive videoconferencing to limited numbers of sites, telementoring and other forms of individual teaching, as well as teleconsultation. 12,13,18 Nevertheless, the educational potential of telemedicine has only begun to be realized.…”