Real‐time telehealth using ultrasonography is feasible in equine practice

Abstract

Summary Telehealth allows health care professionals to evaluate patients in remote locations using telecommunications technology. This manuscript presents a pilot experience with the goal of testing the feasibility and exploring the benefits for patients and veterinarians, technological challenges and perceived value of telehealth in ultrasound. In phase 1, experienced equine private practitioners and a sonographer performed diagnostic ultrasound examinations in collaboration using telecommunications technology. In phase 2, horses underwent two consecutive ultrasound examinations. One examination was performed by an inexperienced sonographer assisted by a remote expert, and all horses were then scanned by an expert sonographer on‐site. Information about each interaction was collected, and a questionnaire was used at the end of the project to summarise practitioners’ and trainees’ experiences and perceptions. Thirty‐six cases were evaluated using telecommunications technology. There were technological problems that were minor in 11 occasions, and in one case, the remote assistance had to be cancelled. Sonograms were longer when performed by an inexperienced sonographer aided remotely (40 ± 19, [9–73] min) than when performed by a sonographer (24 ± 12, [4–43 min], P = 0.02). Telehealth for ultrasound was feasible, and technological challenges could be solved. Telehealth for ultrasound was well received by private practitioners, house officers and sonography experts. The perceived benefits were the addition of clinically useful information, reassurance to practitioners and horse owners and education for practitioners. The results of this study support generating the hypothesis that telehealth could in the future increase the quality of equine medicine, and prospective studies are needed to confirm this. Rigorous care will be needed to ensure that implementation of telehealth technology prioritises equine health and the veterinary profession.

Accuracy and reliability of tele‐ultrasonography in detecting gastrointestinal obstruction in dogs and cats

“…It was said that it is complicated to render a meaningful interpretation from another sonographer's static images or videoclips (Mattoon & Berry 2021), but a recent pilot study evaluating the feasibility of telehealth in equine ultrasound (Navas de Solis et al . 2020), showed that TUS is feasible in veterinary medicine. Even though some radiologists have expressed dissatisfaction with remote reporting associated with this imaging modality (Johnson 2011) and the potential loss of image quality and change in grey scale (Burgul et al .…”

Application of the multi‐theory model to explain veterinarians’ intentions to use telehealth/telemedicine

“…4,5 In one study using real-time ultrasonography, specialists at a referral clinic remotely assisted the on-site general practitioner in obtaining and reading a sonograms from horses, which provided clinically valuable information in a timely manner. 5 Other potential benefits of telehealth in clinical practice include: expanding veterinary care to underserved or remote areas, 6,7 eliminating travel time and providing flexibility in scheduling, 2,4,6 as well as providing additional sources of education for practitioners. 5 Telehealth can also be used situationally in production medicine, where it can be difficult to closely monitor animals due to sheer numbers or inability to observe animals every day.…”

“…Telehealth can also increase access to specialists or their services from a distance 4,5 . In one study using real‐time ultrasonography, specialists at a referral clinic remotely assisted the on‐site general practitioner in obtaining and reading a sonograms from horses, which provided clinically valuable information in a timely manner 5 . Other potential benefits of telehealth in clinical practice include: expanding veterinary care to underserved or remote areas, 6,7 eliminating travel time and providing flexibility in scheduling, 2,4,6 as well as providing additional sources of education for practitioners 5 …”

“…Telehealth can also increase access to specialists or their services from a distance 4,5 . In one study using real‐time ultrasonography, specialists at a referral clinic remotely assisted the on‐site general practitioner in obtaining and reading a sonograms from horses, which provided clinically valuable information in a timely manner 5 .…”

“…5 Other potential benefits of telehealth in clinical practice include: expanding veterinary care to underserved or remote areas, 6,7 eliminating travel time and providing flexibility in scheduling, 2,4,6 as well as providing additional sources of education for practitioners. 5 Telehealth can also be used situationally in production medicine, where it can be difficult to closely monitor animals due to sheer numbers or inability to observe animals every day. In an article by Neethirajan et al, the authors detailed how novel biosensors provide significant benefits in disease detection and isolation, health monitoring and detection of reproductive cycles, as well as monitoring physiological wellbeing of animals via analysis of the environment (for both livestock and aquaculture).…”