Telehealth consultations in rheumatology: cost-effectiveness and user satisfaction

We conducted a feasibility study to assess user satisfaction with and the cost-effectiveness of a rheumatology telehealth clinic in northern Alberta. Six telehealth clinics were organized between a rural health centre and the specialist rheumatology centre, which was about a 4 h drive away. Fifty-two new patients were seen. Their median age was 54 years (range 7-81 years). After the teleconsultation, no patient required a conventional face-to-face consultation. Overall, patients agreed that the teleconsultation met their needs and that the care they received was as good as conventional care. The physicians involved in the study thought the process practical and effective. The total costs of service delivery would be equal for teleconsultation and for traditional consultation at a workload of 247 consultations a year.