Researchers conducted an economic evaluation to analyze the cost, effectiveness and return of investment of telemedicine consultations to children in rural EDs.
Researchers found the average cost for a telemedicine consultation was $3,641 per child per year in 2013, when factoring in implementation costs. However, each telemedicine consultation resulted in a $4,662 cost reduction per child per year. Additionally, telemedicine consultations led to 31 percent fewer patient transfers.
The return on investment for this telemedicine project equaled approximately a $1.96 return for each dollar invested.
“From a healthcare payer perspective, telemedicine consultations to healthcare providers of acutely ill and injured children presenting to rural EDs are cost-saving or cost-effective,” researchers concluded.
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