The introduction of a fetal ultrasound telemedicine service: quality outcomes and family costs

Snaith, Vikki, Lie, Mabel, Marshall, Alison ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6816-2362 , Bidmead, Elaine ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0166-4506 and Robson, Stephen C. (2017) The introduction of a fetal ultrasound telemedicine service: quality outcomes and family costs. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 124 (S2). pp. 35-36.

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Abstract

Introduction: The complexity of fetal medicine (FM) referrals that can be managed in a district general hospital (DGH) is dependent on the availability of specialist ultrasound expertise. Telemedicine can effectively transfer real-time ultrasound images via video-conferencing. We report the successful introduction of a fetal ultrasound telemedicine service.

Methods: All women referred for FM consultation from the linked DGH were seen via a weekly telemedicine service, excluding cases where invasive testing was anticipated. Image and audio quality were rated (using a 5 point scale) following each consultation. Women referred for their first appointment were asked to complete a questionnaire following the consultation. Figures presented are median [range].

Results: 80 women had a telemedicine consultation between October 2015 and September 2016. 37 cases were new referrals because of fetal anomaly (n = 17), exclusion of abnormal placental invasion (n = 11), small-for-gestational-age (n = 7) and prior history of fetal anomaly (n = 2) and 43 cases were follow-up consultations. Median gestation was 29 [13–36] weeks. Image quality was of sufficient quality to achieve the aims of the consultation in 79 cases with an image score of 4 [3–5] and audio score of 5 [3–5]. Journey to the telemedicine consultation was 20 [4–150] minutes in comparison to an estimated journey time of 238 [120–450] minutes to the FM centre. Estimated family costs for attendance at the FM centre were £95 [20–555].

Conclusion: We have demonstrated that a fetal ultrasound telemedicine service can be successfully introduced and used to provide high quality consultations.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1471-0528
Departments:	Research Centres > Cumbrian Centre for Health Technologies (CACHET)
Additional Information:	Poster abstract from the British Maternal & Fetal Medicine Society (BMFMS) 19th Annual Conference, 30-31 March 2017, Amsterdam, The Netherlands (poster abstract no. P.FM.55).
Depositing User:	Anna Lupton
Date Deposited:	29 Sep 2017 11:52
Last Modified:	12 Jan 2024 17:02
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/3246

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