Evaluation of telemedical support to a free-standing minor accident and treatment service

Abstract

We studied all patients attending a free-standing minor accident and treatment service MATS run by emergency nurse practitioners ENPs . In a six-month period, 5563 patients were seen in the MATS, of whom 2843 51 were new attenders. A teleconsultation was carried out with 150 of these patients 2.7 of all cases . The most common reason 39 was to discuss a radiograph with an accident and emergency consultant. The accuracy of the telemedicine-assisted radiographic diagnosis was checked subsequently by a review panel. The ENPs' working diagnoses made by viewing the films had a sensitivity of 90 and a specificity of 96 ; this was improved by telemedicine assistance to 97 and 99 , respectively. The telemedicine patients were also surveyed several months after being seen in the MATS; their replies indicated that the telemedicine diagnoses had been correct.