Teleconsultation in remote care stations: cost-minimisation analysis of the Guianese experiment. (10th December 2008)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nassiri, N.; Le Goff-Pronost, M.; Nassiri, A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of biomedical engineering and technology. Volume 2:Number 1(2009)
• Page Start: 74
• Page End: 87
• Publication Date: 2008-12-10
• Subjects: cost minimisation -- costs -- evaluation studies -- telemedicine -- teleconsultation -- France -- e-health -- electronic healthcare -- healthcare technology -- remote care -- remote healthcare -- Guiana -- air medical evacuation; Biomedical engineering -- Periodicals; 610.28
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1752-6418

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to carry out a cost-minimisation analysis in order to measure the cost saving performances of teleconsultation in Guiana. Fixed and variable costs are estimated in order to identify the break-even point of teleconsultation. It also takes into account organisational and quality effects. Teleconsultation permits savings on air medical evacuation costs if 13 evacuations are avoided each year inseparably at the four stations. If stations are analysed separately, the most efficient station is Trois Sauts where telemedicine is a promising option. Saint Georges is the worst and suffers from organisational problems caused by personnel turnover.