Author Description

A telepsychiatry pilot projekt linking Alberta Hospital Ponoka and five general hospitals was implemented in June 1996. Information was collected through questionnaires administered to consumers, service providers, and psychiatric consultants. Additional information was obtained by interviews, site visits, logs and telephone interviews with consumers. Sites were phased in over a three-month period. In total there were 109 consultations, of which 19 were for repeat consumers. Referrals were received from 31 physicians. Seventy-five percent of consultations were to general psychiatry and the remainder to a psychogeriatrician or a psychiatrist specializing in substance abuse. Users indicated that the technology was considered easy to use, and the quality of the sound and picture were appropriate for the application. Survey data suggested strong acceptance and satisfaction by consumers, service providers, and psychiatric consultants. Benefits perceived by consumers included timeliness of service, service in their own community with no travel-related stressors, decreased work time loss for self or family, and positive outcomes as a result of psychiatrist experience.