A review of telemedicine cost-effectiveness studies.

As interest in telemedicine grows, many of its proponents and vendors increasingly suggest that it is now time to move to full-scale implementation of telemedicine services in a variety of contexts throughout the world, and question the need for further evidence of its utility and cost-effectiveness. We have reviewed the published literature relating to cost-effectiveness studies in telemedicine and have identified some important weaknesses. Ten recommendations regarding the design of economic evaluations of telemedicine are suggested.