Program activity in the second year of the Rural Telemedicine Grant Program Part 2

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Telemedicine Policy

Background:

• The Office of Rural Health Policy funded 13 telemedicine networks in 1994.
• Previous analysis detailed network activity, consults, and costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present conclusions from objective data on rural telemedicine networks.
• To synthesize findings on network performance and financial aspects.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of objective data previously presented in Part 1.
• Drawing conclusions based on activity levels, consult numbers/types, and transmission costs.

Main Results:

• Data on activity levels, consults, and transmission costs were objectively analyzed.
• Key performance indicators and cost-effectiveness were evaluated.

Conclusions:

• The study provides insights into the operational and financial outcomes of early rural telemedicine initiatives.
• Findings inform future policy and funding for telemedicine programs.