Table 3.
One-Way Sensitivity Analysis for Patients Who Received Telemedicine Consultations Compared with Telephone Consultations in Rural Emergency Departments
| Parameter: Effectiveness of Telemedicinea | Consultation | Costb | No. (%) of Patients Not Transferredc | ICERd (USD/Transfer Avoided) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | |
| Telemedicine | $2,725,630 | 21 (29.6) | $43,080 | |
| 15% | Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | |
| Telemedicine | $2,610,154 | 26 (36.6) | $19,921 | |
| 20% | Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | |
| Telemedicine | $2,496,788 | 30 (42.3) | $8342 | |
| 25% | Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | |
| Telemedicine | $2,379,203 | 34 (47.9) | $1295 | |
| 31% (Base-case analysis) | Telemedicine | $2,263,728 | 39 (56.3) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$3236e | |
| 35% | Telemedicine | $2,148,252 | 43 (60.6) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$6544 | |
| 40% | Telemedicine | $2,032,777 | 48 (67.6) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$9025 | |
| 45% | Telemedicine | $1,917,301 | 52 (73.3) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$10,955 | |
| 50% | Telemedicine | $1,801,826 | 56 (78.9) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$12,500 | |
| 55% | Telemedicine | $1,686,350 | 61 (85.9) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$13,763 | |
| 60% | Telemedicine | $1,570,875 | 65 (91.5) | (cost-saving) |
| Telephone | $2,348,680 | 13 (20.3) | −$14,815 |
Transfer reduction rate using telemedicine, % = 100% * [baseline transfer rate − telemedicine transfer rate]/baseline transfer rate.
2013 US dollar (USD) value.
Children who received telemedicine consultations: n = 71; children who received telephone consultations: n = 64.
ICER (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) = [Costs of care for a patient receiving a telemedicine consultation] − [Costs of care for a patient receiving a telephone consultation]/[# of patients not transferred after a telemedicine consultation] − [# of patients not transferred after a telephone consultation].
A negative ICER indicated telemedicine consultations were cost-saving compared with telephone consultations. The negative ICER value itself did not represent the amount of cost-saving.