Teleconsultations between general practitioners and ophthalmologists in Finland

We carried out a study of the value of videoconferencing in consultations b etween general practitioners (GPs) and ophthalmologists in Finland. We used ISDN lines (128 kbit/s) between the Primary Health Care Centre in Ikaaline n and the ophthalmology clinic at the Tampere University Hospital (TAUH). Q uestionnaires covering both clinical and technical matters were given to pa tients and doctors after The consultation. During the 10-month study, consu ltations were carried out successfully for 23 of 24 patients (96%). Most co nsultations (84%) took less than 15 min. If we had not had this system, the CP would have made 21 referrals to an ophthalmologist. After teleconsultat ion, six patients were sent to the TAUH, so the system saved 15 referrals. Twenty-two patients (92%) thought that videoconferencing was a reliable too l for GPs. Our system proved to be a valuable and reliable tool for the GPs in ophthalmology consultations and continuing education.