Modelling home televisiting services using systems dynamic theory.

A quantitative model was developed to study the provision of a home televisiting service. Systems dynamic theory was used to describe the relationships between quality of care, accessibility and cost-effectiveness. Input information was gathered from the telemedicine literature, as well as from over 75 sessions of a televisiting service provided by the Severo Ochoa. Hospital to 18 housebound patients from three different medical specialties. The model allowed the Severo Ochoa Hospital to estimate the equipment needed to support increased medical contacts for intensive cardiac and other patients.