Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose:To assess the feasibility and utility of realistic methods of videoteleconsultation (VTC) in vitreoretinal surgical. diseases Methods:110 physician-to-physician VTC on vitreoretinal diseases were performed via ISDN lines (98 VTC) or satellite link-transmission (12 VTC) between 6 sites in Italy. The transfer of medical information (clinical data, images) was performed through a complete new dedicated internet site using a common special integrated real-time electronic board. 75 VTC were performed on surgical follow-up, 35 on second opinion consultation. A patient was present near the physician in 51 VTC. Each VTC was evaluated through a question-score-system giving an insufficent/sufficient/good/optimum judgement. Results:Access evaluation (right care at the right time): good. Acceptability evaluation (degree of users’ satisfaction): sufficent. Medical quality evaluation (data quality transfer, medical efficacy): good. Cost/benefit evaluation: good. Globally, results were better in VTC regarding surgical follow-up cases. Conclusion:Nowadays current technology allows VTC in vitreoretinal surgery. ISDN transmission was more comfortable and reliable than satellite transmission. Our main difficulties were: long physicians’ training; to focus and elaborate our VTC standards, data transfer technology and users’ satisfaction evaluation procedures.
Keywords: 351 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: health care delivery/economics/manpower • 356 clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques • 628 vitreoretinal surgery