ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This paper relates a technical and functional study of teleradiology network after two years of duty in Mont-de-Marsan's general hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied from november 1995 to november 1997, the following items: the number of transmitted files, the medical departments involved, the degree of emergency, the purpose of the transmission, the number and type of images, if patient's transfer is wished or not, and the way the answer is given. RESULTS: During this 2-year period, 94 files were transmitted mainly to the University Hospital. The radiology department was the main user (36%), followed by the emergency department (29%). A notion of emergency occurred in 63% of the cases. Most of the cases where for radiodiagnosis (48%), and therapeutic advice (42%), mainly in neurosurgery. Each file consisted of 3 to 4 images of which 77% were CT-Scan. The patient transfer was wished for in 13 files. Answer was given by computerised methods in 43% of the cases, and otherwise by telephone. CONCLUSION: Despite a better medical management of patients, this network is underused. The main reasons being the lack of information, the lack of time and the fact the network has not yet found its place in our professional environment.
