Using telemedicine to improve perinatal care in South Carolina.

摘要

The preterm birth rate has increased more than 20% in the United States since 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2009). While some states fare better than others, unfortunately, South Carolina ranks poorly. In fact, the state was recently the 3 rd worst in terms of its preterm birth rate. Preterm births negatively impact birth defects, infant mortality, health care expenditures, and the overall health status of the state. Hence, the question of how to reduce this rate is critical, and given the recent and ongoing advances in technology, one solution may involve using telemedicine.;This study was conducted to assess the perceived need for and willingness to use telemedicine to improve perinatal care in South Carolina. Questionnaires were mailed to all licensed obstetricians/gynecologists and certified nurse midwives in South Carolina, a total of 533 individuals. The survey had a 22% response rate.;The results indicate that, while more than 50% of the respondents suggested that telemedicine would not necessarily benefit their patients or quality of care, a majority or 79.25% expressed a willingness to try telemedicine if the infrastructure were in place. Additionally, 90.52% of the participants confirmed having a computer in the place where they see patients, and 93.04% of those individuals also had interne service. Perhaps more importantly, the providers who expressed a willingness to try telemedicine came from counties with higher preterm or infant mortality rates, which should affect how efforts for improvement are focused and targeted. Stakeholders should carefully review the results of this study, and in doing so consider that telemedicine may offer an innovative approach to improve perinatal care in South Carolina.