The personal telemedicine system. A new tool for the delivery of health care.

An inexpensive home telemedicine system has been developed, comprising a personal telemedicine unit in the patient's home connected by ordinary telephone lines to a central nursing station. Using this system a nurse or other health-care professional at the central station was able to make a 'video visit' to the patient's home. In a preliminary trial, patients were referred by the patient's physician or by a home-care nurse. All 12 patients learned to use the personal telemedicine unit easily and effectively, and there were no complications related to its use. A significant finding was a reduction in the number of home-care visits in seven of the 12 patients (58%). Telecare using the personal telemedicine system was significantly cheaper than care delivered by conventional routes. The average charge was about $15 for a video visit by a nurse, compared with about $90 for a real visit.