Psychiatric inpatient care planning via telemedicine

• Published in: Journal of telemedicine and telecare 2000-01, Vol.6 (3), p.152-157
• Main Authors: Mielonen, M L, Ohinmaa, A, Moring, J, Isohanni, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Finland; Hospital Costs; Hospitals, University - economics; Humans; Patient Care Planning - economics; Patient Care Planning - organization & administration; Patient Satisfaction; Psychiatric Department, Hospital - economics; Psychiatric Department, Hospital - organization & administration; Remote Consultation - economics; Remote Consultation - instrumentation; Remote Consultation - standards; Self Disclosure; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1357-633X; 1758-1109
• DOI: 10.1258/1357633001935248

We assessed the costs of psychiatric inpatient care-planning consultations to remote areas using videoconferencing, instead of the conventional face-to-face consultations at a hospital. The data were collected from all wards at the department of psychiatry of Oulu University Hospital over 11 months. A total of 14 videoconferences were conducted with two primary-care centres located 220 km and 160 km from Oulu. During the same period, 20 conventional consultations at the Oulu University Hospital were also assessed. A questionnaire was completed by a total of 124 patients, relatives and health-care personnel; the response rate was about 90%. Of the respondents, 90% were satisfied with the quality of communication afforded by videoconferencing. At a workload of 20 patients per year, the cost of the videoconferences was FM2510 per patient; the cost of the conventional alternative was FM4750 per patient. At 50 care consultations per year, a remote municipality would save about FM117,000.