Audit of Web-based telemedicine in ophthalmology

A Web-based service was set up to link subspecialist ophthalmologists with those seeking advice on particular clinical problems in ophthalmology. The service operated between countries, with centres in Malaysia, Ghana, Tanzania, South Africa and Gambia seeking advice from Moorfields Eye Hospital in the UK. It also operated within country, where a rural clinic in The Gambia sought advice from the central hospital on difficult cases or cases for possible referral. Provision of Web access and training in image capture and manipulation were undertaken in each participating centre. During the first 12 months, 132 cases were posted to the Website from five of the six centres participating. The rate of case referral rose to about 12-14 cases per month by the end of the study. Overall, 24% of referrals did not use images. In the first four months the response time was 13 days, and in the last four months it was three days. Most cases were answered with a single response from the specialist. The main problem was the amount of Internet down-time in each of the locations. The main benefit was safe and reliable access to specialist advice for practitioners.