New study says telehealth could save ED millions of dollars each year
Patient Safety Monitor Alert
November 14, 2007
The Center for Information Technology Leadership has released a new study on the effect telehealth could have on different parts of the healthcare system. It estimates that emergency departments (ED) could save $537 million each year in transfer costs. Often rural EDs are not equipped to handle all types of patient cases, and patients are transferred to another ED, costing facilities time, money, use of equipment, and personnel.If patients were evaluated by telehealth means, they may not have to be transferred to a new facility, cutting much of the cost that would have previously been incurred. The study says that out of the 110 million ED visits in 2004, 2.2 million involved ED transfers.
To read all of the results of the study, click here.
