This study examined teleconsultantsââ?¬â?¢ specialty, practice setting, type of employment, years and training in telemedicine to\r\nevaluate the effect of these characteristics on diagnoses and treatment. A postuse survey was conducted during 1998ââ?¬â??2003\r\n(n = 454 consultations) in the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciencesââ?¬â?¢ Rural Hospital, Telehealth Project. There were 61\r\nconsultants who conducted the teleconsultations. The teleconsultants established a diagnosis in 121 consultations and reported a\r\nchange in diagnoses in 29 consultations.The consultants established a treatment plan in 219 consultations and reported a change in\r\nthe treatment plan in 100 consultations.Dermatologists were significantly more likely to establish (P < .01) and change (P = .005)\r\nthe diagnosis and to establish a treatment plan (P = .03), when compared to all other specialties. Teleconsultants who were\r\nself-employed were significantly more likely to change the treatment plan (P = .012). The findings suggest that teleconsultantsââ?¬â?¢\r\ncharacteristics can affect diagnoses and treatment in telemedicine.
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