RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Low-bandwidth, low-cost telemedicine consultations in rural family practice.
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 123
OP 127
VO 15
IS 2
A1 Thomas E Norris
A1 Garu L Hart
A1 Eric H Larson
A1 Pete Tarczy-Hornoch
A1 David L Masuda
A1 Sherrilynne S Fuller
A1 Peter J House
A1 Sarah M Dyck
YR 2002
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/15/2/123.abstract
AB BACKGROUND Telemedicine, based on the use of interactive video consultations, is being used more commonly in rural settings. This development is potentially important to rural patients because there are fewer physicians, particularly specialist physicians, in rural areas. Declining costs of telemedicine equipment and transmission have created increased access to these technologies for rural family physicians and their patients.METHODS This study considers satisfaction levels of rural family physicians, academic-based specialists, and rural patients in 130 consultations between rural physicians, rural patients, and urban academic specialists. To increase the practicability for rural use, low-cost equipment and low-bandwidth digital telephone transmission lines were utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires that were completed by patients, family physicians, and specialist consultants after each consultation.RESULTS All categories of participants noted very high levels of satisfaction.CONCLUSION Telemedicine-based consultations are well accepted by rural patients, rural family physicians, and urban academic specialist consultants. This approach could offer a useful adjunct to rural health care.