OBJECTIVES: Telemedicine has been used extensively in various settings, 
including monitoring patient treatment response and counseling. However, there 
are few data on the application of telemedicine to chronic pain patients. The 
present study was the first pilot project to determine whether telemedicine 
technology for chronic pain consultation was feasible, cost-saving, and 
satisfactory to patients and pain physicians.
METHODS: A prospective pilot study was conducted on chronic pain patients 
requiring follow-up consultations using telemedicine technology. Patients were 
interviewed by phone following the consultation.
RESULTS: Eleven telemedicine anesthesia consultations involving eight patients 
(age 42+/-9 years; six men, two women) were performed. All were follow-up 
consultations. The average distance from patients' home to the clinic was 
314+/-170 km. The reasons for consultation were for update of patient progress 
(10/11), medication change (6/11), and counseling (3/11). The time to complete 
the consultation was 24.5+/-9.5 minutes. The data for the time and the cost that 
the patient spent on the consultation are presented as median and 25% to 75% 
interquartile range. Patients having telemedicine consultations spent 0.9 hours 
(0.83-1) and Canadian dollar 3 (dollar 2-4) versus an estimate of 8 hours (6-8) 
and Canadian dollar 80 (dollar 46-260) for a conventional consultation (both 
P<0.005). Telemedicine consultation was found to be highly satisfactory to the 
patient and the consulting and attending anesthesiologists.
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study indicates that telemedicine follow-up 
consultations for chronic pain patients are feasible and cost-saving. Patients 
and anesthesiologists were highly satisfied with telemedicine consultation. 
Patients reported a significant saving in time and cost compared with a 
conventional consultation.