Does telemedicine save money?
Electronic communication between health care workers and patients typically saves time and improves disease management, but what about cost-effectiveness? That issue remains in question.
Researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia looked at 80 clinical trials involving the use of telemedicine and found that distance medicine technology enables improved continuity of care.1 The technology, they reported, improves management in particular of osteo arthritis, cardiac rehabilitation, and diabetes. Telephone follow-up and reminders are the strategies that facilitate the most prominent clinical change.
However, they wrote, "available evidence is insufficient to determine whether current telemedicine applications are cost-effective."
Reference
1. Balas EA, Jaffrey F, Kuperman GJ, et al. Electronic communication with patients: Evaluation of distance medicine technology. JAMA 1997; 278:152-159.
Following are names and telephone numbers of sources quoted in this issue:
• Robert Bacon, director of the office of billing compliance, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia. Telephone: (215) 349-8798.
• Sue Prophet, RRA, CCS, director of classification and coding, American Health Information Management Association, Chicago. Telephone: (312) 787-2672, ext. 340. E-mail: sprophet@ahima. mhs.compuserve.com
• Paula Swain, RN, MSN, CPHQ, FNAHQ, Principal Associate, Swain & Associates, a healthcare consulting company, St. Petersburg, FL. Telephone: (813) 526-6605; E-mail: pssinc96@ aol.com, or www.snaconsulting.com
• Karl J. Kuppler, vice president of operations and corporate compliance officer, Trumbull Memorial Hospital, Warren, OH. Telephone: (330) 841-9463.
• Jane M. Bryant, director of risk management, Greenville (SC) Hospital System. Telephone: (864) 455-8042.
• Ernest L. Tsoules Jr., JD, Kalogredia, Tsoules, and Sweeney, Ltd., Wayne, PA. Telephone: (610) 687-8315; E-mail: [email protected]
• Janet McIntyre, spokeswoman, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Oakbrook Terrace, IL. Telephone: (630) 792-5635.
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