Research Article

Evaluation of the Effect of Consultant Characteristics on Telemedicine Diagnosis and Treatment

Table 2

Characteristics of the Teleconsultants in the Teleconsultations ( ).

Variable Percentage (%)

*Primary practice setting
 Academic medical center99289
 Hospital40636
 Outpatient clinic42338
 Private office37434
  Community health clinic36433

Consultant—years in practice
 1–9 years57556
 10–45 years45844
 No response 81

Type of employment
 Health care facility99195
 Provider organization 24 2
 Self-employed, other 33 3
 No response 66

Date telemedicine practice began within this system
 1996–199935751
 2000–200333649
 No response421

Consultant specialty
 Obstetrics/Gynecology45531
 Genetic Counseling34924
 Psychiatry/psychology21015
 Nutrition and dietetics113 8
 Dermatology109 8
 Primary Care 59 4
 Pharmacy 56 4
 Other 17 specialties 98 7

Consultant discipline
 MD483 41
 MSc300 25
 PhD203 17
 PhD, registered dietician 86 7
 PharmD 56 5
 Health related professions 32 3
 Registered nurse 192
 Social worker 2.10
 Physical therapist 1.08
 No response 267

Number of patients seen using telemedicine
 ≤30 patients253 23
 >30 patients834 75
 First consult27 2

* Note. Consultants could choose multiple answers for this item.