The cost benefits of telemedicine have been studied in detail.
Telemedicine has proven less expensive than conventional
in-person examinations for small clinical care facilities, the
falling expense of equipment more than compensating for
increased cost of skilled technicians.24 Screening for diabetic
retinopathy in a community health center was 35% less
costly using telemedicine rather than direct observation,
including the expense for a second in-person exam to
confirm the need for treatment.26 Rural underdeveloped
areas show cost efficiencies from diabetic telemedicine
screening, but the expense of maintaining remote imaging
facilities may make annual testing in such circumstances
economically impractical.36