Telemedicine in Sweden - a diffusion study

A survey of telemedicine use in Sweden was carried out. The response rate b y hospital management was high at almost 90%. Sixty per cent of hospitals w ere involved in some kind of telemedicine activity in Sweden, with a furthe r 15% planning telemedicine implementation. In rural areas of north Sweden good links exist between primary and secondary care. In the more populated southern region good links exist between the county hospitals and specialis t university hospitals. Fifty-four per cent of telemedicine applications we re used for specialist consultations, 13% for consultation between paramedi cs and hospitals and 10% for rounds. Teleradiology was the most frequent se rvice.