A Cost-Minimization Analysis of Orthopaedic Consultations Using Videoconferencing in Comparison with Conventional Consulting

Abstract

We compared the costs of conventional outpatient visits to the surgical department of the University Hospital of Oulu with those of videoconferencing between the primary care centre in Pyhäjärvi and the University Hospital (separated by 160 km). The cost data were obtained from a randomized controlled trial that included 145 first-admission and follow-up orthopaedic patients. In the telemedicine group the annual fixed costs were 6074 in the hospital and 3910 in the primary care centre. The additional variable costs were 2 in the hospital and 19 in primary care. At a workload of 100 patients, the total cost, including travel and indirect costs, was 87.8 per patient in the telemedicine group and 114.0 per patient in the conventional group (i.e. a total cost saving from the use of teleconsultation of 2620). A cost-minimization analysis showed that telemedicine was less costly for society than conventional care at a workload of more than 80 patients per year. If the distance to specialist care were reduced from 160 km to 80 km, the break-even point increased to about 200 patients per year. Wider utilization of the videoconferencing equipment for other purposes, or the use of less expensive videoconferencing equipment, would make services cost saving even at relatively short distances. The study showed that orthopaedic outpatient telecare can be cost minimizing.

Overcoming Distance: Video‐Conferencing as a Clinical and Educational Tool Among Surgeons

“…Another Finnish study had similar results. Wider utilization of the VC equipment for other purposes, or the use of less expensive VC equipment, would make services cost-saving even at relatively short distances [ 46 ].…”

Restructuring the inpatient advanced pharmacy practice experience to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus disease 2019: Lessons from Saudi Arabia

“…Previous evidence showed that the use of videoconferencing could be a useful educational tool in clinical and biomedical sciences, especially in underserved areas 8‐11 . Other evidence showed that the use of videoconferencing could be cost‐effective 12 . In pharmacy education, previous evidence showed that the use of videoconferencing in academia APPE elective was effective and successful 13 .…”

Patients' Satisfaction of Healthcare Services and Perception with In-Home Telerehabilitation and Physiotherapists' Satisfaction Toward Technology for Post-Knee Arthroplasty: An Embedded Study in a Randomized Trial

“…1 In-home telerehabilitation, defined as the provision of remote rehabilitation services to individuals with persistent and significant disabilities through information technologies and telecommunications in their home, 2 is growing as a complementary or alternative intervention to traditional face-to-face therapy in home care and outpatient services. 3 In rehabilitation, teleconsultation between two healthcare services has been studied with patients requiring speech therapy, 2,4-11 mental health, 12 and physical assessments such as for wounds, [13][14][15] orthopedic, [16][17][18] and neurologic conditions 19 and for assistive devices adjustment. [20][21][22] Moreover, two studies investigated the accuracy of teleassessment in the field of telerehabilitation.…”