An Overview of Some Technological/Health-Care System Implications of Seven Exploratory Broad-Band Communication Experiments

The utility of broad-band interactive two-way visual telecommunication has been assessed in a wide variety of healthcare delivery settings in seven exploratory projects funded by the Bureau of Health Services Research, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. These projects are briefly summarized and communication events are classified into five exhaustive but not matually exclusive categories: consultation, supervision, direct patient care (telemedicine), administration and management, and education and training. Technical and human factors to be considered in the design of a visual telecommunication system are identified. Tradeoffs available among them are discussed, such as resolution for remote controls and frame rate. The impact of visual telecommunication on the often competitive performance goals of the health-care system is discussed, e.g., random video consultations may simultaneously decrease physician productivity and patient inconvenience. The paper concludes by suggesting directions for future research and by noting that broad-band video is but one among many technological, organizational, manpower, and other options available to those who seek solutions to the problems of health-care delivery.