[Telemedicine: an unfruitful experience of tele-expertise in nephrology]

Abstract

Introduction: We developed a new system of medical tele-expertise to improve detection and care of chronic renal failure by way of a better communication between general practitioners and specialists. It has been known for long that the incidence of chronic renal failure is increasing while cost of its treatment is very high. Unfortunately, late referral of patients with kidney diseases remains around 30%. Our goal was to help physicians to get access to nephrologists, hence to improve the cure of renal diseases. An early treatment of nephropathies may avoid the evolution to the stage of dialysis.

Methods: We created a website with the technical support of the firm Unimedecine. It allowed a secure and fast exchange of medical data, all about the case of a one patient.

Results: General practitioners seemed enthusiastic, but at the end, only a few of them did use the website. The number of connexion remained low throughout a 3-year experience. Questions were about advices but no progressive nephropathy was discovered. The cost of the website was a prohibitive 75 000 euros for 3 years. Therefore, we had no choice that to close the experience.

Discussion: Telemedicine needs juridical rules and specific finances to work on a long run.