7
views
0
recommends
+1 Recommend
0 collections
    0
    shares
      • Record: found
      • Abstract: found
      • Article: not found

      Cost evaluation of a telepsychiatry service in northern Queensland.

      Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare
      Adolescent, Adult, Child, Costs and Cost Analysis, Evaluation Studies as Topic, Humans, Psychiatry, economics, Queensland, Remote Consultation

      Read this article at

      ScienceOpenPublisherPubMed
      Bookmark
          There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

          Abstract

          We conducted a simple comparison of the costs associated with delivering a mental health service by telepsychiatry and by conventional methods. The telepsychiatry rural outreach service was delivered to a mining town 900 km from the regional hospital in Townsville. When the telemedicine service was well established, 40 cases a month were seen for general adult psychiatry, four for child and adolescent mental health, four for psychology and two for forensic services. Costs and quality-of-life issues were considered. The savings to the health authority were estimated to be $85,380 in the first year and $112,790 in subsequent years, not allowing for maintenance and equipment upgrading. We also estimated a 40% reduction in patient transfers due to the introduction of telemedicine. Based on the previous year's figures of 27 transfers at $8920 each, this would produce an annual saving of $96,336 for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. The results of the study showed considerable savings from reduced travel by patients and health-care workers.

          Related collections

          Author and article information

          Journal
          9640742
          10.1258/1357633981931515

          Chemistry
          Adolescent,Adult,Child,Costs and Cost Analysis,Evaluation Studies as Topic,Humans,Psychiatry,economics,Queensland,Remote Consultation

          Comments

          Comment on this article