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- Title
On the Evaluation of Economic Benefits of Japanese Telemedicine and Factors for Its Promotion.
- Authors
Shoichi Miyahara; Masatsugu Tsuji; Chikako Iizuka; Takashi Hasegawa; Fumio Taoka
- Abstract
This paper attempts to estimate economic values of telemedicine and to extract factors thatpromote telemedicine through the use of survey data. This is the first analysis aimed at evaluatingtelemedicine in Japan. We utilized the Contingent Valuation Method and estimateddemand functions of telemedicine. Because the number of institutions replying with willingnessto pay (WTP) and willingness to undertake (WTU) is relatively small, the Kernel EstimationMethod was applied. After estimating WTP and WTU, by multiplying the numberof medical institutions currently implementing telemedicine, the whole value in Japan wasobtained. By using the Tobit Model, factors that influence WTP and WTU were extracted. EstimatedWTP was $35.23 for teleradiology and $162.89 for telepathology. WTU estimated was$39.81 for teleradiology and $86.59 for telepathology. Estimated economic benefits in Japanfor 1 year were $1.27 million for WTP of teleradiology and $278,600 for telepathology. WTUis $10 million for teleradiology and $393,400 for telepathology. Medical institutions with thefollowing characteristics tend to reply larger WTP: (1) university hospitals, (2) internal medicine,(3) radiology, and (4) use of video conference systems. Regarding WTU, the followingcharacteristics influence WTU: (1) use of a personal computer, (2) use of telepathology equipment,(3) high satisfaction with the quality of telemedicine, and (4) experience base of telemedicine.Based on the nationwide survey on telemedicine, the total value of telemedicine inJapan was estimated. In addition to the evaluation, quantitative aspects of implementation oftelemedicine, such as factors to promote telemedicine, are analyzed. These can provide usefulinformation for further implementation of telemedicine not only in Japan but in othercountries as well.
- Subjects
JAPAN; TELEMEDICINE; MEDICAL telematics; MEDICAL radiology
- Publication
Telemedicine & e-Health, 2006, Vol 12, Issue 6, p691
- ISSN
1530-5627
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1089/tmj.2006.12.691