Blackwell N A, Kelly G J, Lenton L M
Mt Isa Base Hospital, QLD.
Med J Aust. 1997;167(11-12):583-6. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1997.tb138904.x.
To assess the use of remote telemedicine ophthalmology in patients presenting to an emergency department with acute eye problems.
A prospective review from 1 December 1996 to 28 February 1997 of referral patterns and telemedicine consultations, comparing referral patterns with the same period one year before.
24 patients presenting to the emergency department of a remote base hospital in Queensland with an acute ophthalmological problem requiring a specialist opinion.
Clinical outcomes; use of the Patient Transit Scheme for isolated patients; acceptability to patients and doctors; and ophthalmologists' opinions of the system.
No adverse outcomes were identified. Patients transferred for urgent assessment fell from 17 for the corresponding period in the previous year to four during the study period, while respective numbers of patients requiring non-urgent transfers (for surgery or postoperative review) during the same periods were 41 and 30. Both patients and staff (including the ophthalmologists) found the telemedicine facility very acceptable.
Ophthalmology is well suited to telemedicine for the diagnosis and management of acute conditions and postoperative assessment of patients in remote areas. It offers considerable potential benefits to patients, and enhances the skills of local practitioners.
评估远程眼科远程医疗在因急性眼部问题前往急诊科就诊患者中的应用情况。
对1996年12月1日至1997年2月28日期间的转诊模式和远程医疗会诊进行前瞻性回顾，并与前一年同期的转诊模式进行比较。
24名因急性眼科问题前往昆士兰州一家偏远基层医院急诊科就诊且需要专科医生意见的患者。
临床结果；为偏远地区患者使用患者转运计划的情况；患者和医生的接受程度；以及眼科医生对该系统的意见。
未发现不良后果。在前一年同期，因紧急评估而转诊的患者有17例，而在研究期间降至4例，同期需要非紧急转诊（进行手术或术后复查）的患者数量分别为41例和30例。患者和工作人员（包括眼科医生）都认为远程医疗设施非常易于接受。
眼科非常适合利用远程医疗对偏远地区患者的急性病症进行诊断和管理以及术后评估。它为患者带来了相当大潜在益处，并提高了当地从业者的技能。
