Is teleradiology service in primary health care cost-effective?
Johansen I; Breivik E Kommunelegen i Sel, 2670 Otta. inge.johansen@olk.onh.no BACKGROUND: Not many analyses have been performed of the cost-effectiveness of telemedicine services. A teleradiology service linking a general practice in rural Norway up with the local hospital in the nearest town was established in 1998. METHODS: Savings on traveling expenditure were registered for all patients who underwent elective examinations in Otta during the first year of service. Over a four-month period in 2002, records were made of whether patients undergoing emergency examinations were taken in to the local general practice or referred to the hospital. These data are key factors in the evaluation of cost-effectiveness. The method employed is a cost-minimisation analysis in which the costs of teleradiology are compared to the costs incurred when patients go to hospital for a radiological examination. RESULTS: On the basis of data for 3006 patients, an estimated annual NOK 1.4 million (USD 200,000
