Report Lays Out Telehealth Benefits

HDM Breaking News, November 12, 2007

A national rollout of telehealth systems in emergency departments, correctional institutions, nursing homes and physician offices could save $4.28 billion annually, according to a newly published study.

The Center for Information Technology Leadership at Boston-based Partners HealthCare System conducted the study, funded by grants from two foundations and San Antonio-based AT&T.

The study looked at three types of systems--store-and-forward, real-time video and a hybrid combination--that use telemedicine technology to make clinicians remotely available to patients. Benefits far outweighed costs for all three systems, but CITL recommends the hybrid system as the best investment.

The largest barrier remains costs borne by provider organizations while insurers enjoy the accrued savings, according to the study. The estimated $4.28 billion in annual savings do not include benefits from using telemedicine technologies on inpatient floors, for home monitoring, interpretive services or medical education. Consequently, study authors believe their identified savings are conservative.

Text of the report, “The Value of Provider-to-Provider Telehealth Technologies,” is available at citl.org.

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