Modelling home televisiting services using systems dynamic theory

A quantitative model was developed to study the provision of a home televis iting service. Systems dynamic theory was used to describe the relationship s between quality of care, accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Input info rmation was gathered from the telemedicine literature, as well as from over 75 sessions of a televisiting service provided by the Severo Ochoa Hospita l to 18 housebound patients from three different medical specialties. The m odel allowed the Severo Ochoa Hospital to estimate the equipment needed to support increased medical contacts for intensive cardiac and other patients .