Store-and-forward teleneurology in developing countries

Abstract

We assessed the feasibility of a store-and-forward email teleneurology service between a UK neurologist and a rehabilitation hospital in Bangladesh. Over 12 months, email advice was requested for 12 patients (mean age 43 years, range 15-57 years). Each patient generated an average of 5.2 email messages. Eight cases were considered complicated by the neurologist, who would have preferred a video-link consultation for these. The referring doctor found the neurologist's advice beneficial in 75% of the complex cases and in all of the more straightforward cases. Patient care was changed in 50% of the cases as a result of the specialist advice and one patient transfer out of the country was avoided. Store-and-forward teleneurology is effective for delivering expert neurological advice.

Email triage is an effective, efficient and safe way of managing new referrals to a neurologist

“…Email triage has been used successfully in Finland8 and the UK9 in a number of other specialities and also between a hospital in Bangladesh and specialists in the UK in a mixed group of specialities including neurology 2 10. Email is used by some other UK and Irish neurologists, but the only published report is within the Action on Neurology project from the now-defunct NHS Modernisation Agency, in which only 10–20% of patients were triaged out of the clinic system 11.…”

Remote care of a patient with stroke in rural Trinidad: use of telemedicine to optimise global neurological care

“…Teleneurology consultations has been successfully used via email between two countries such as UK and Bangladesh 33. Teleneurology by email is considered sustainable, safe, effective and efficient 34.…”

Development of Telemedicine System

“…In addition, during the search we specified additional conditions which need to be considered [3]. The system automatically creates request.…”