A tele-obstetric broadband service including ultrasound, videoconferencing and cardiotocogram. A high cost and a low volume of patients.
J Telemed Telecare
; 13(4): 180-4, 2007.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17565773
ABSTRACT
We established a tele-obstetric service connecting the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Nordland Hospital in Bodø to the delivery unit at the Nordland Hospital in Lofoten. The telemedicine service included a videoconferencing link (3 Mbit/s) for transmission of ultrasound scans and a low-speed data link (telephone modem) for transmission of cardiotocograms (CTGs). One hundred and thirty pregnant women entered the antenatal clinic in Lofoten during the eight-month study period. A total of 140 CTGs were recorded. The tele-ultrasound service was used in five cases (4%). The cases were serious malformation, Down's syndrome, breech presentation, vaginal bleeding during pregnancy and triplets. Analysis showed that the cost of patient travel was NOK 2460 per transfer. The variable cost of videoconferencing was NOK 250 per consultation. However, the total investment costs for the telemedicine service, including the broadband infrastructure, was NOK 1.7 million (Euro 212,000). The telemedicine service was not cost saving at annual workloads below 208. We conclude that the installation has to be used by other medical specialities to make it cost-effective.
Buscar en Google
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Ultrasonografía Prenatal
/
Telemedicina
/
Atención a la Salud
/
Obstetricia
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Health_economic_evaluation
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Límite:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Telemed Telecare
Asunto de la revista:
INFORMATICA MEDICA
/
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Año:
2007
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Noruega