A feasibility study of realtime telemedicine in Croatia using Internet videoconferencing

We explored the feasibility of realtime telemedicine in Croatia using Inter net videoconferencing. A 33 kbit/s link was established between a team of s pecialists in the General Hospital 'Sveti Duh' in Zagreb and a general prac titioner's clinic in Selca, on the island of Brac. During a two-week study, 16 patients (median age 51 years) were studied. Twenty-one teleconsultatio ns (seven initial and 14 follow-up visits) were conducted, 13 with a specia list in internal medicine, six with a surgeon and two with a neurologist. I n 18 cases (86%) telemedicine successfully replaced hands-on examination. T he mean duration of the teleconsultations was 7.2 min (initial visits 7.4 m in, follow-up visits 7.1 min). Each computer system cost about US$700. The total connection cost for the study was US$4.95. The teleconsultations save d the patients US$272 in travel costs. We suggest forming a permanent on-li ne specialist service connected to networked clinics via the Internet to im prove access to health-care in Croatia.