How can the telemedicine consultation service be evaluated and the quality maintained?
A telemedicine consultation is, like many other aspects of medical care, a process that can deliver a service with a range of quality and efficiency depending on how it is implemented and executed. It can also improve or degrade over time as those involved get acclimated to the process and develop either good or bad habits. The best way to address this is to implement a systematic plan for process monitoring and quality improvement that focuses on the delivery of the telemedicine consultations. The basis of this monitoring plan is to first set expectations formulated for the service when it was originally developed. These expectations may include outcomes of importance to the provider organization such as increased referrals, increased name recognition or better service to their affiliated partners. They may also include increased access to services, cost reductions or improved patient outcomes and satisfaction at the remote sites. The second source of information for the monitoring an
