Transportation savings and medical benefits of a teleneuroradiological network

Since 1996, Turku University Central Hospital has offered teleradiology consultations regarding computerized tomography examinations of the brain to three regional hospitals in Finland, in which neurosurgical or neuroradiological specialist services are not available, in order to avoid unnecessary patient transportation. We performed a retrospective survey of the teleconsultations performed in 1998. Medical records and the relevant radiology images were obtained. During the study period, teleconsultations were carried out for a total of 83 patients, of whom 16 were transported to the university hospital (i.e. 81% of these patients had avoided unnecessary transportation). The total savings amounted to 42,100 ECU. Of the 16 transported patients, 12 were immediately operated on in the university hospital. It was judged that, because of the consultation service, the patients undergoing an operation had benefited from a more rapid and a more complete recovery. In 1998 the teleradiology consultation service was established as part of the routine work of the Medical Imaging Centre and a fee for its services was adopted.