Telepulmonology in the Netherlands: effect on quality and efficiency of care
Thijssing, L.; van der Heijden, J.P.; Chavannes, N.H.; Melissant, C.F.; Jaspers, M.W.M.; Witkamp, L.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 192: 1087
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-8365 PMID: 23920861 Document Number: 666700
In telepulmonology a general practitioner (GP) digitally consults a local pulmonologist. This study assessed the effect of telepulmonology on quality and efficiency of care. Efficiency of care was measured as the percentage of prevented physical referrals. Quality of care was measured using 5 indicators. Thirty-one percent of the TelePulmonology Consultations (TPCs) were sent to prevent a physical referral, the other TPCs were sent to ask for advice of the pulmonologist. Sixty-eight percent of the TPCs sent to prevent a physical referral indeed prevented a physical referral. Eighteen percent of the TPCs sent for advice resulted in a physical referral on advice of the pulmonologist. These patients would not have been referred without telepulmonology.