Low-bandwidth, low-cost telemedicine consultations in rural family practice.

BACKGROUND Telemedicine, based on the use of interactive video consultations, is being used more commonly in rural settings. This development is potentially important to rural patients because there are fewer physicians, particularly specialist physicians, in rural areas. Declining costs of telemedicine equipment and transmission have created increased access to these technologies for rural family physicians and their patients. METHODS This study considers satisfaction levels of rural family physicians, academic-based specialists, and rural patients in 130 consultations between rural physicians, rural patients, and urban academic specialists. To increase the practicability for rural use, low-cost equipment and low-bandwidth digital telephone transmission lines were utilized. Data were collected using questionnaires that were completed by patients, family physicians, and specialist consultants after each consultation. RESULTS All categories of participants noted very high levels of satisfaction. CONCLUSION Telemedicine-based consultations are well accepted by rural patients, rural family physicians, and urban academic specialist consultants. This approach could offer a useful adjunct to rural health care.