Comparative performance of seven long-running telemedicine networks delivering humanitarian services

Author:

Wootton Richard12,Geissbuhler Antoine3,Jethwani Kamal4,Kovarik Carrie5,Person Donald A6,Vladzymyrskyy Anton7,Zanaboni Paolo1,Zolfo Maria8

Affiliation:

1. Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway

2. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Norway

3. Department of Radiology and Medical Informatics, Geneva University, Switzerland

4. Center for Connected Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

5. Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA

6. Pacific Island Health Care Project, Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii, USA

7. Donetsk National Medical University, Donetsk, Ukraine

8. Clinical Sciences Department, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract

Seven long-running telemedicine networks were surveyed. The networks provided humanitarian services (clinical and educational) in developing countries, and had been in operation for periods of 5–15 years. The number of experts serving each network ranged from 15 to 513. The smallest network had a total of 10 requesters and the largest one had more than 500 requesters. The networks operated in nearly 60 countries. The seven networks managed a total of 1857 cases in 2011, i.e. an average of 265 cases per year per network. There was a significant growth in total activity, amounting to 100.3 cases per year during the 15 year study period. In 2011, network activity was 50–700 teleconsultations per network. There were clear differences in the patterns of activity, with some networks managing an increasing caseload, and others managing a slowly reducing caseload. The seven networks had published a total of 44 papers listed in Medline which summarized the evidence resulting from the delivery of services by telemedicine. There was a dearth of information about clinical and cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the services were widely appreciated by referring doctors, considered to be clinically useful, and there were indications that clinical outcomes for telemedicine patients were often improved. Despite a lack of formal evidence, the present study suggests that telemedicine can provide clinically useful services in developing countries.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Health Informatics

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