Trained personnel assisted the volunteers at the site while the study participants were interviewed via the telemedicine unit by Mayo Clinic Jacksonville physicians 12 miles away. Various vital signs were recorded, and an electronic stethoscope was used to listen to the patients heart and lungs. The average age of the participants was 77 years and 12 were female. Eleven of the 18 were comfortable with the system and used it without assistance, and 72 percent said they thought the system correctly recorded their vital signs. This is in contrast to many perceived beliefs that telehealthcare may harm the doctor-patient relationship.
Financial concerns remain one of the biggest hurdles both for the patient and the caregiver.
However, costs are decreasing. Leasing agreements also may help alleviate the high costs to consumers. Meanwhile, Medicare has begun paying for telemedicine consults, but only in areas where there is a geographic shortage of health professionals. Other restrictions were placed on this including that a physician or limited-license provider recognized by Medicare is stationed at both ends of the consult. But there are also legal and ethical concerns to be worked out as the practice of telemedicine advances with technology, says Dr. Bratton.