Journal of telemedicine and telecare
-
We examined the activity (services recorded) and cost (benefits paid) of reimbursement associated with telepsychiatry services in the Australian public health-care sector. We reviewed the activity and costs administered through the government's Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) from July 2002 to June 2011. ⋯ Of these, 8003 were telepsychiatry consultations which cost $934,000, i.e. the video consultations subgroup represented 0.06% of all psychiatric consultations provided and 0.06% of the total cost to the government for these services. Despite telepsychiatry being a widely reported and successful example of telehealth internationally, the uptake of telepsychiatry in Australia has been slow.
-
A systematic review of studies of the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine and telecare was undertaken from 1990 until September 2010. Twelve databases were searched, using economic evaluation terms combined with telemedicine terms. The search identified 80 studies which were classed as full economic evaluations; the majority (38) were cost-consequence analyses. ⋯ Eleven were CEA and seven were CUA. Economic tools are being increasingly used for telemedicine and telecare studies, although better reporting of the methodologies and findings of the economic evaluations is required. Nonetheless, the results of the review were consistent with previous findings, i.e. there is no further conclusive evidence that telemedicine and telecare interventions are cost-effective compared to conventional health care.
-
Smartphone applications (or apps) are becoming increasingly popular. The lack of regulation or guidance for health-related apps means that the validity and reliability of their content is unknown. We have conducted a review of available apps relating to the generic condition of pain. ⋯ Despite an increasing number of apps being released, the frequency of HCP involvement is not increasing. Pain apps appear to be able to promise pain relief without any concern for the effectiveness of the product, or for possible adverse effects of product use. In a population often desperate for a solution to distressing and debilitating pain conditions, there is considerable risk of individuals being misled.
-
We evaluated the technical and organisational feasibility of a multifunctional telemedicine system in an emergency medical service (EMS) from the user's perspective. The telemedicine system was designed to transmit vital signs data and 12-lead-ECG data, send still pictures and allow voice communication and video transmission from an ambulance. The data were sent to a teleconsultation centre staffed with EMS physicians (tele-EMS physician). ⋯ The tele-EMS physician was able to assist the EMS team in several cases and provided the preliminary information for the hospital in nearly all missions. Use of the telemedical system in EMS is feasible and the quality of the transmitted images and video was satisfactory. However, technical reliability and availability need to be improved prior to routine use.