International Virtual e-Hospital Foundation, Anchorage, Alaska 99507, USA.
Telemed J E Health. 2011 Dec;17(10):757-62. doi: 10.1089/tmj.2011.0102. Epub 2011 Oct 19.
The Ministry of Health of Kosova has recently announced the Telemedicine Program of Kosova (TMPK) as the official institution responsible for managing and coordinating the nation's Long-Distance Continuous Medical Education (CME) program. There are a lack of studies on cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and other economic evaluations of telemedicine programs (TMP), in particular the financial value of CME offered through such a service. In addition, there is lack of prospective studies on Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) of TMP.
The goal of this study was to conduct a retrospective CBA of prospective data collected at TMPK over a 5-year period (2005-2010) in order to determine the cost benefit as opposed to the alternative method of delivery of this model for developing countries whose healthcare systems are in disarray.
We reviewed data on the number of participants in virtual lectures both at the Telemedicine Center of Kosova (TCK) as well as the number of participants at six Regional Telemedicine Centers throughout Kosova, the number of lectures broadcasted, the clinical cases reviewed and transmitted for international consultation, and other quantitative data.
Only in 2009, approximately 2,000 CME certificates were awarded to physicians and nurses of Kosova, 18 international teleconsultations were conducted, 138 videoconferences, lectures, and seminars were held, and there were over 9,000 visitors at the TCK e-library. Data analysis shows that the TMPK has been an efficient mechanism for CME and sustainable model for rebuilding the medical system. TMPK has been successful in offering physicians, nurses, and other medical professions access to electronic information.
TMP is an efficient mechanism to ensure CME and rebuilding medical systems in developing countries. There is a need for prospective CBA of any TMP and the establishment of M&E programs in any future telemedicine initiatives in developing countries.
科索沃卫生部最近宣布科索沃远程医疗计划（TMPK）为负责管理和协调全国远程持续医学教育（CME）计划的官方机构。缺乏对远程医疗计划（TMP）的成本效益分析（CBA）和其他经济评估的研究，特别是通过这种服务提供的 CME 的财务价值。此外，缺乏对 TMP 的监测和评估（M&E）的前瞻性研究。
本研究的目的是对 TMPK 在 5 年期间（2005-2010 年）收集的前瞻性数据进行回顾性 CBA，以确定与替代方法相比，这种模式对医疗保健系统混乱的发展中国家的成本效益。
我们审查了在科索沃远程医疗中心（TCK）以及科索沃六个地区远程医疗中心参加虚拟讲座的参与者人数、广播的讲座数量、审查和传输用于国际咨询的临床病例以及其他定量数据。
仅在 2009 年，就向科索沃的医生和护士颁发了约 2000 份 CME 证书，进行了 18 次国际远程咨询，举办了 138 次视频会议、讲座和研讨会，TCK 电子图书馆有超过 9000 名访客。数据分析表明，TMPK 一直是 CME 的有效机制，也是重建医疗系统的可持续模式。TMPK 成功地为医生、护士和其他医疗专业人员提供了获取电子信息的途径。
TMP 是确保发展中国家 CME 和重建医疗系统的有效机制。需要对任何 TMP 进行前瞻性 CBA，并在发展中国家的任何未来远程医疗倡议中建立 M&E 计划。
