Telemedicine precepting in a family practice center

This study assessed the feasibility, reliability, and acceptability of video teleconference precepting of residents practicing in rural sites. Precepting encounters were conducted between faculty at our home-base family practice center and third-year residents at a rural site. Full audio and video teleconferencing equipment was used; data was transmitted by fractional T1 lines. Residents and faculty recorded patient demographics, rated the technical quality of the encounter, and noted equipment problems during encounters. Video teleconferencing was used for 137 patient encounters, which was 10% of all encounters. The self-reported technical quality of the encounter was acceptable (all 4 dimensions of quality rated a median score of 4 out of 5). Minor transmission or equipment problems were noted 20% of the time by residents. Use of teleconferencing diminished considerably over the 6-month period of the study. Most cases precepted by teleconferencing involved uncomplicated acute illnesses. Telemedicine precepting was technically feasible, generally reliable, and initially acceptable to the third-year residents. However, the cases precepted were mostly acute illnesses, and use of telemedicine for precepting diminished over time.