One-year experience of a regional service model of teleconsultation for planning and treatment of complex thoracoabdominal aortic disease

Abstract

Such a regional service of teleconsultation may be of value in standardizing the treatment and derived costs of complex TAADs in a huge region under the same health provider. The shared decision-making strategy may be of medical-legal value as well.

Multidisciplinary oncology care pathways, evaluation of organisational interventions

“…VC enhanced multidisciplinary discussions between specialists and other healthcare professionals on diagnostic and treatment plans in all 13 studies where this was investigated [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] . VC strengthened their collegial networks, or established new partnerships, resulting in virtual management of regional oncology networks.…”

“…Care coordination was considered to be improved (11 studies) 55-57, 59-63, 65-67 . VC discussions on complex cases were considered educational for younger specialists and were a form of on-the-job training (5 studies) 56,57,60,61,66 . Most studies reported that MDTM participants would be willing to replace face-to-face meetings to discuss treatment plans for their patients with VC-MDTMs if the benefits outweighed the drawbacks and the technology would support it at lower costs [55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][65][66][67] .…”

“…VC also helped specialists in oncology networks that required each other to bring together all the disciplines needed to draft diagnostic, or collaborate over, treatment plans to form a single regional oncology networks 4 MDTM. Using videoconferencing could help them plan with the patient and avoid unnecessary travel for patients (8 studies) [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] . VC facilitated the access of patients from rural communities to scarce, urban facilities such as radiotherapy units (8 studies) [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] .…”

“…Using videoconferencing could help them plan with the patient and avoid unnecessary travel for patients (8 studies) [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] . VC facilitated the access of patients from rural communities to scarce, urban facilities such as radiotherapy units (8 studies) [60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67] . VC enhanced care coordination through case management that could identify the best treatment in a timely manner.…”

“…VC enhanced care coordination through case management that could identify the best treatment in a timely manner. VC enabled MDTs to meet national standards and guidelines when addressing rare tumours (7 studies) [60][61][62][63][64][65][66] , of those studies only three evaluated VC in relation to waiting times 60,62,67 . VC reduced travel for patients (2 studies) 61,67 .…”