Pacht ER et al. 1998 "Effectiveness of telemedicine in the outpatient pulmonary clinic."
Reference
Pacht E, Turner J, Gailiun M, et al. Effectiveness of telemedicine in the outpatient pulmonary clinic. Telemedicine Journal: the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association 1998;4(4):287.
Abstract
"BACKGROUND: Over the past several years, there has been a resurgence of interest in telemedicine. Despite this renewed interest, some health care providers remain skeptical regarding the effectiveness of telemedicine for the delivery of health care. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective, crossover study was to determine if there was any difference between care delivered using video conferencing-based telemedicine technology and that given by a traditional face-to-face encounter in a pulmonary medicine clinic. METHODS: Two pulmonologists sequentially examined 40 individuals via video conferencing-based telemedicine technology and by the traditional face-to-face method. Two additional pulmonologists, in a blinded fashion, compared the results for consistency in the history, examination with focus on auscultation of the lungs, diagnostic impression, and evaluation and treatment plans. RESULTS: Evaluation of patients by telemedicine was as effective as the traditional mode. The telemedicine physician and the physician examining the patient in the traditional manner were able to elicit the same key complaints and hear the same adventitious sounds on auscultation of the lungs. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine can enable the provision of high-quality care in a pulmonary clinic setting."
Objective
"To determine if there was any difference between care delivered using video conferencing-based telemedicine technology and that given by a traditional face-to-face encounter in a pulmonary medicine clinic."
Tools Used
Type Clinic
Specialty care
Size
unknown
Geography
Urban
Other Information
In the study, a prison clinic communicated with academic hospital specialists.
Type of Health IT
Telemedicine
Workflow-Related Findings
Evaluation of patients by telemedicine was as effective as the traditional method (face-to-face).
Patients were very satisfied with their ability to ask questions and receive information and 93 percent agreed or strongly agreed that they were comfortable asking questions to the telemedicine physician. In addition, 90 percent of the subjects strongly agreed or agreed that the physician had communicated with them effectively.
Patients appreciated the convenience and the decreased travel time of telemedicine.
Study Design
Only postintervention with intervention and control groups
Study Participants
Study participants included 40 patients that were scheduled consecutively, 30 of whom who filled out a questionnaire, and two physicians.