A Modeled Analysis of Telehealth Methods for Treating Pressure Ulcers after Spinal Cord Injury

Table 5

Cost estimates by scenario.

	Total cost estimates^a
	Low	Medium	High
Scenario  1: Preventive care
Within SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$19,955	$23,673	$32,933
Telehealth option 1^b	$18,465	$21,349	$28,669
Outside SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$5,514	$9,242	$24,057
Telehealth option 1^b	$18,465	$21,349	$28,669
Telehealth option 2^c	$4,895	$8,066	$14,934
Scenario  2: Existing pressure ulcer
Within SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$10,100	$11,234	$12,368
(No telehealth in this situation)
Outside SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$6,795	$8,408	$13,368
Telehealth option 3^d	$4,901	$6,325	$11,083
Scenario  3: Postsurgical care
Within SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$4,184	$6,199	$13,769
Telehealth option 1^b	$7,897	$9,331	$14,093
Telehealth option 3^d	$2,159	$3,619	$9,515
Outside SCI homecare catchment area
Standard care	$2,828	$4,719	$12,154
Telehealth option 1^b	$6,903	$8,161	$12,746
Telehealth option 3^d	$2,159	$3,619	$9,515

SCI: Spinal cord injury.
^aFigures are in 2007 dollars.
^bTelehealth option 1 used an interactive videoconferencing machine that was installed in the patient’s home. ^cTelehealth option 2 used the same machine plus station-to-station (hub and spoke) teleconferencing. ^dTelehealth option 3 used low-cost equipment such as digital cameras and e-mail.