Telehealth services using real time video communication: economic analyses (search done: June 2009)
Citation: Wade VA, Karnon J, Elshaug AG, et al. A systematic review of economic analyses of telehealth services using real time video communication. BMC Health Services Research 2010; 10: 233
What is this? The COVID-19 pandemic is placing a strain on healthcare services and resources. Existing research into the cost-effectiveness of telehealth services may provide useful information for policy makers.
In this systematic review, the authors searched for studies of telehealth services using real time video communication that reported both economic and health outcomes. They restricted their searches to articles published in English before June 2009. They included 18 randomized trials and 18 non-randomized studies, covering a variety of health disciplines.
What was found: In general, in the studies available for this review (before 2010), telehealth services were less costly than usual care, but some studies reported greater costs.
In the studies available for this review (before 2010), telehealth services were cost-effective for home care and access to on-call hospital specialists.
From the studies available for this review (before 2010), telehealth services were not cost-effective for local delivery of services between hospitals and primary care.
From the studies available for this review (before 2010), the effects of telehealth services for rural service delivery, are uncertain.
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