2,000,000 Electrocardiograms by Distance: An Outstanding Achievement for Telehealth in Brazil

Stud Health Technol Inform. 2015:216:991.

Abstract

Our aim is to describe the evolution of the telediagnostic service of the Telehealth Network of Minas Gerais (TNMG), a public telehealth service in Brazil. It started in 2006 with 82 cities, restricted to electrocardiography analysis. Currently it extends to 772 cities--performing also Holter, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and retinography analysis--and 48 ambulances in the north of the state, as part of a myocardial infarction system of care. Using low-cost equipment and simple technology, TNMG has employed various strategies to increase telehealth use. The number of ECGs performed by TNMG has progressively increased. It was expected to achieve 2 million in February 2015. The utilization rates were around 90%. It proved to be economically sound, promoting savings of 45M USD for an investment of 10.2M USD. It is currently a regular health service in the state, integrated into the healthcare system. In conclusion, the telehealth model developed in Minas Gerais produced good clinical and economical results.

MeSH terms

  • Brazil
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Electrocardiography / methods*
  • Electrocardiography / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis
  • Myocardial Infarction / physiopathology
  • Program Development
  • Telemedicine / economics
  • Telemedicine / methods
  • Telemedicine / organization & administration
  • Telemedicine / statistics & numerical data*