Managing suicides via videoconferencing in a remote northern community in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: Telehealth in remote communities has been reported to be cost-effective for emergency medicine and possibly for psychiatry.
METHODS: The cost of sending a patient out of a remote community for suicide assessment was compared with the cost of maintenance and on-line charges of videoconference. The cost comparison was used to determine the potential savings to the provincial government. User satisfaction was assessed through qualitative questionnaires.
RESULTS: The use of videoconferencing for mental health assessment for 71 patients in a remote northern community saved the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador dollar 140,088 in 2003. Patients and health professionals were satisfied with mental health assessment via videoconference.
CONCLUSION: The provision of mental health assessments for patients in a remote community in Labrador, Canada by videoconference was effective and saved money.