ERIC Number: EJ693633
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 5
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0890-765X
EISSN: N/A
Cost Analysis in Telemedicine: Empirical Evidence From Sites in Arizona
de la Torre, Adela; Hernandez-Rodriguez, Clemente; Garcia, Lorena
Journal of Rural Health, v20 n3 p253-257 Sum 2004
Support of telemedicine for largely rural and ethnically diverse populations is premised on expectations that it increases opportunities for appropriate and timely medical services, and that it improves cost-effective service delivery. To understand the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine in 8 small and/or rural sites in Arizona. A cost analysis framework was used to measure the efficacy of telemedicine in the selected sites from May 1, 2000, to April 30, 2001. The costs for telemedicine services in half the study sites were more than the costs for conventional face-to-face diagnosis when the volume of telemedicine services used at a site was relatively low. This result persisted even when the opportunity cost for the patients in accessing more traditional types of care was included in the cost estimates. These preliminary findings suggest that telemedicine in some instances may not be cost-effective for providing medical specialists for underserved communities, particularly if these networks are underutilized by the patient population. Further analyses are needed to assess factors influencing utilization patterns of telemedicine services by underserved and ethnic communities before implementing these programs at clinical sites.
National Rural Health Association, One West Armour Boulevard, Suite 203, Kansas City, MI 64111-2087. Tel: 816-756-3140; Fax: 816-756-3144.
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Arizona
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A