A cohort study of early neurological consultation by telemedicine on the care of neurological inpatients

Craig, J., Chua, R., Russell, C., Wootton, R., Chant, D. and Patterson, V. (2004) A cohort study of early neurological consultation by telemedicine on the care of neurological inpatients. Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery And Psychiatry, 75 7: 1031-1035.


Author Craig, J.
Chua, R.
Russell, C.
Wootton, R.
Chant, D.
Patterson, V.
Title A cohort study of early neurological consultation by telemedicine on the care of neurological inpatients
Journal name Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery And Psychiatry    (ERA 2010 Rank A)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2004
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.1136/jnnp.2002.001651
Volume number 75
Issue number 7
ISSN 0022-3050
Start page 1031
End page 1035
Total pages 5
Editor M. N. Rossor
J. O'Flaherty
Place of publication London
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Collection year 2004
Language eng
Subject C1
321021 Psychiatry
730211 Mental health
CX
321013 Neurology and Neuromuscular Diseases
730399 Health and support services not elsewhere classified
Abstract Objectives: To find out the effect of early neurological consultation using a real time video link on the care of patients with neurological symptoms admitted to hospitals without neurologists on site. Methods: A cohort study was performed in two small rural hospitals: Tyrone County Hospital (TCH), Omagh, and Erne Hospital, Enniskillen. All patients over 12 years of age who had been admitted because of neurological symptoms, over a 24 week period, to either hospital were studied. Patients admitted to TCH, in addition to receiving usual care, were offered a neurological consultation with a neurologist 120 km away at the Neurology Department of the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, using a real time video link. The main outcome measure was length of hospital stay; change of diagnosis, mortality at 3 months, inpatient investigation, and transfer rate and use of healthcare resources within 3 months of admission were also studied. Results: Hospital stay was significantly shorter for those admitted to TCH (hazard ratio 1.13; approximate 95% Cl 1.003 to 1.282; p = 0.045). No patients diagnosed by the neurologist using the video link subsequently had their diagnosis changed at follow up. There was no difference in overall mortality between the groups. There were no differences in the use of inpatient hospital resources and medical services in the follow up period between TCH and Erne patients. Conclusions: Early neurological assessment reduces hospital stay for patients with neurological conditions outside of neurological centres. This can be achieved safely at a distance using a real time video link.
Keyword Clinical Neurology
Psychiatry
Surgery
Management
Teleradiology
Teleneurology
Diagnosis
Agreement
Q-Index Code C1

 
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