FEASIBILITY OF ORTHOPEDIC TELECONSULTING IN A GERIATRIC REHABILITATION SERVICE

Fifteen elderly patients participated in a teleconsultation with an or thopaedic surgeon, which was then followed by a conventional, face-to- face consultation. The comparison between the surgeon's ratings for bo th types of consultation suggested that the telemedicine consultation was satisfactory in terms of the quality of image and sound, the clini cal examination and general simplicity. The telemedicine consultations did not generate a need for any additional clinical investigations, a lthough in two cases a face-to-face consultation was necessary to clar ify clinical signs (shortening of a limb and scar tissue). The surgeon 's rating of his decision level was superior in the face-to-face situa tion in four cases, and for 11 patients it was equal. Similarly, the s urgeon's level of confidence in decision making was superior in the co nventional situation for five patients and equal for 10 patients. Pati ent attitudes towards teleconsulting were favourable. There was a high level of patient satisfaction. Teleconsulting between orthopaedic sur geons and elderly patient; therefore appears to be possible, provided that certain technical, clinical and psychological considerations are addressed.