Economic impact of outpatient follow-up using telemedicine vs in-person visits for patients in general surgery: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.
Cir Esp (Engl Ed)
; 102(6): 314-321, 2024 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38604567
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Innovation in internet connectivity and the Covid 19 pandemic have caused a dramatic change in the management of patients in the medical field, boosting the use of telemedicine. A comparison of clinical outcomes and satisfaction between conventional face-to-face and telemedicine follow-up in general surgery, an economic evaluation is mandatory. The aim of the present study was to compare the differences in economic costs between these two outpatient approaches in a designed randomized controlled trial (RCT).METHODS:
A RCT was conducted enrolling 200 patients to compare conventional in-person vs. digital health follow-up using telemedicine in the outpatient clinics in patients of General Surgery Department after their planned discharge. After a demonstration that no differences were found in clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction, we analyzed the medical costs, including staff wages, initial investment, patent's transportation and impact on social costs.RESULTS:
After an initial investment of 7527.53, the costs for the Medical institution of in-person conventional follow-up were higher (8180.4) than those using telemedicine (4630.06). In relation to social costs, loss of productivity was also increased in the conventional follow-up.CONCLUSION:
The use of digital Health telemedicine is a cost-effective approach compared to conventional face-to-face follow-up in patients of General Surgery after hospital discharge.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Telemedicine
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
En
Journal:
Cir Esp (Engl Ed)
/
Cir. esp. (Internet, Engl. ed.)
/
Cirugia espanola (Internet. English ed.)
Year:
2024
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Spain