Observational studyBMC primary care2024
Redesigning telemedicine: preliminary findings from an innovative assisted telemedicine healthcare model.
Observational study in BMC primary care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Assessing Telemedicine Implementation Potential in High-Referral Specialties: A Cross-Sectional Study in Iran.Health science reports · 2026Article
- Telemedicine as a "digital umbilical" for maternal and reproductive healthcare: a qualitative study from health and wellness centers in rural West Bengal, India.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- Review
- Digital Innovations for Clinical Assessment in Acquired Brain Injury: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Implementation of community-based screening program for risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among the urbanized tribal population of West Bengal.Health promotion perspectives · 2025Article
- A Cost-Minimization Analysis of Teleconsultation Versus In-Person Care for Chronic Diseases and Rehabilitation in Medically Underserved Areas of South Korea.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTelemedicine holds immense potential to revolutionise healthcare delivery, particularly in resource-limited settings and for patients with chronic diseases. Despite proven benefits and policy reforms, the use of telemedicine remains low due to several patient, technology, and system-level barriers. Assisted telemedicine employs trained health professionals to connect patients with physicians, which can improve access and scope of telemedicine. The study aims to describe the design, service utilisation and chronic disease outcomes following the implementation of an assisted telemedicine initiative.
methodsThis is an observational implementation study. Barriers and potential solutions to the implementation of telemedicine were identified through interviews with key stakeholders. The assisted telemedicine solution using an interoperable platform integrating electronic health records, point-of-care diagnostics, and electronic clinical decision support systems was designed and piloted at three telemedicine clinics in Tamil Nadu, India. Nurses were trained in platform use and facilitation of tele-consultations. Health records of all patients from March 2021 to June 2023 were included in the analysis. Data were analysed to assess the utilisation of clinic services and improvements in health outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
resultsOver 2.4 years, 11,388 patients with a mean age of 45 (± 20) years and median age of 48 years, predominantly female (59.3%), accessed the clinics. The team completed 15,437 lab investigations and 26,998 consultations. Among 5542 (48.6%) patients that reported chronic conditions, diabetes mellitus (61%) and hypertension (45%) were the most frequent. In patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension, 43% and 75.3% were newly diagnosed, respectively. Diabetes mellitus and hypertension patients had significant reductions in fasting blood sugar (-33.0 mg/dL (95% CI (-42.4, -23.7, P < 0.001)), and systolic (-9.6 mmHg (95% CI (-12.1, -7.0), P < 0.0001)) and diastolic blood pressure (-5.5 mmHg (95% CI (-7.0, -4.08), P < 0.0001)) at nine months from first visit, respectively.
conclusionsThe 'Digisahayam' model demonstrated feasibility in enhancing healthcare accessibility and quality by bridging healthcare gaps, diagnosing chronic conditions, and improving patient outcomes. The model presents a scalable and sustainable approach to revolutionising patient care and achieving digital health equity, with the potential for adaptation in similar settings worldwide.
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