The role of technology in video-mediated consensus meetings

We have studied the use of video-mediated technology to facilitate multidisciplinary meetings where consensus is reached about the diagnosis and treatment of patients. The meetings involved 2-5 sites, with 1-20 participants from each site, and concerned patients with severe diseases in the upper abdomen. During a period of about one year we conducted observations and interviews at the Karolinska hospital and some of the local hospitals. Eight video-mediated consensus meetings were video-recorded and transcribed. The audio and the radiology images presented during the meetings were considered to be most important; video was not critical for the consensus meeting itself, but contributed to a feeling of awareness and social presence. We conclude that video-mediated consensus meetings are affected by the technology used, and certain changes in the technology or environment could improve the meetings. Without the technology, such meetings would lead to more travelling for the patient and for the medical staff involved.