Retrospective economic evaluation of the Hellenic Air Force Teleconsultation Project.

Hellenic Air Force introduced its teleconsultation project in 2002 by the establishment of PC-based videoconference links between the Central Air Force Hospital in Athens, Greece and several remote camps in order to serve the personnel and their dependants. A retrospective cost-minimization analysis was conducted for 38 remote subjects that were telemedically examined, instead of being referred to the hospital. For the evaluation of the annual cost of both procedures (telemedicine and referral), the fixed and variable costs were estimated. Furthermore, a simplified sensitivity analysis was conducted. The telemedical system proved to be cost-effective even for the limited number of 38 enrollees. Sensitivity analysis suggested that upon upgrade of the service as an integral component of daily care with subsequent higher number of beneficiaries and users of the system, the cost of each session would decrease dramatically. Current technology indicates that telemedical systems could provide efficient and cost-effective care to eligible enrollees.