Gamus A, Chodick G, et al.
Advances in wound care. Date of publication 2019 Jul 1;volume 8(7):291-297.
1. Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2019 Jul 1;8(7):291-297. doi:
10.1089/wound.2018.0906. Epub 2019 Jul 2.
Costs and Benefits of Telemedicine Compared to Face-to-Face Treatment in Patients
with Lower Extremity Ulcers.
Gamus A(1)(2), Chodick G(1)(2).
Author information:
(1)Maccabi Healthcare Services, Tel Aviv, Israel.
(2)Epidemiology Department, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel
Aviv. Israel.
Objective: Telemedicine (TM) is an evolving method in lower extremity ulcer (LEU)
treatment. Previous studies have demonstrated TM as comparable to the same-room
care in clinical outcomes measures. Conversely, economic assessments of TM
initiative were scarce and inconsistent. This study aims to analyze the costs and
benefits of TM in LEU treatment and to propose a TM implementation
decision-scoring model. Approach: This cost minimization analysis was performed
at Maccabi Healthcare Services (Israel) during January 1, 2013-June 31, 2017
period. The study was based on cost difference assessment. A decision-scoring
model for TM implementation was constructed. Results: The cost per patient in TM
modality, compared to the same-room care, was 7% higher; however, in a proportion
similar to same-room care, the cost of TM was lower. The TM implementation
decision score was 0.236, while the weight of the direct cost factors is 0.70.
Face-to-face only model, compared to the study sample, demonstrated 30% higher
costs. Innovation: The study brings new evidence to an LEU treatment domain with
little previous research. Also, a TM decision implementation scoring model has
been provided. Conclusions: The decision support model may be instrumental in the
TM implementation process.
Copyright 2019, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
DOI: 10.1089/wound.2018.0906
PMCID: PMC6855280
PMID: 31737419
Conflict of interest statement: No competing financial interests exist. The
content of this article was expressly written by the authors listed. No
ghostwriters were used to write this article.
