Towards a comprehensive telecardiology monitoring centre for community-based services.

In a pilot study of primary-care telecardiology, 2563 consultations were carried out over 18 months. Following teleconsultation, 2076 patients (81%) were found to be suitable for management entirely by the general practitioner, without the need for referral to hospital. The system identified 487 patients (19%) with cardiac problems who required either admission to hospital or outpatient assessment. There was a resultant saving of referrals to hospital accident and emergency departments. Extension of the telecardiology service to include tele-echocardiography may result in faster access to diagnosis and better management of patients in heart failure, improving patients' quality of life and reducing hospitalization.