More patients with minor injuries could be seen by telemedicine

Abstract

Summary The Grampian Minor Injuries Telemedicine Service has been operating since 2001 supporting 15 minor injury units (MIUs) in community hospitals. Currently over 120 new patients are seen each month. We conducted a retrospective review to estimate the number of patients who were sent to the main hospital emergency department (ED) who would have been suitable for telemedicine treatment instead. All attendances at three MIUs and onward referrals to the ED during the months January and July 2006 were identified from a database. A total of 112 patients were referred from the three MIUs during the study period. MIU C, which utilized teleconsultations the most, referred the lowest proportion of its patients (2%). MIU B, which had all X-rays reviewed by a general practitioner, referred the most (85%). At MIU B, 80–85% of patients referred to the ED without having a teleconsultation could have been managed by telemedicine. Telemedicine for MIUs has been repeatedly reported in the medical literature as being successful, but widespread usage of this technique remains to be achieved.