TELEMEDICINE IN PRIMARY-CARE IN ISRAEL

A primary-care teleconsulting system was established between an academ ic family medicine centre and a clinic about 50 km away. The videoconf erencing units were connected at 384 kbit/s. Seven patients were exami ned by a physician in the clinic and then examined by a consulting phy sician using the telemedicine system. Four other patients were examine d through the telemedicine system first and by a local physician later . The telemedicine consultation solved five of the patients' medical p roblems. The waiting period before receiving expert medical consultati on was reduced. There was full patient satisfaction regarding this met hod of consultation, patient 'run around' was avoided and patients fel t at ease. The telemedicine consultation process improved the patient- physician bond and the attending physician's level of confidence.