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Bariatric surgery using a network and teleconferencing to serve remote patients in the Veterans Administration Health Care System: feasibility and results.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Sudan, R; Salter, M; Lynch, T; Jacobs, DO
Published in: Am J Surg
July 2011

BACKGROUND: Previously, Midwestern veteran patients had limited bariatric surgery access because they lived long distances from a bariatric surgery center (BSC). The creation and outcomes of a network to increase bariatric surgery access and patient satisfaction with teleconsultation are discussed. METHODS: Several referring Midwestern Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) performed pre- and postoperative management and were linked by teleconferencing and a computerized patient record system to a single BSC. RESULTS: Twenty-eight high-risk patients (older, male) residing an average distance of 324.5 miles from the BSC underwent gastric bypass. Eighty-two percent used teleconferencing for the initial surgical consultation with excellent patient satisfaction saving at least 19,000 miles and 69 travel days. Surgical outcomes were equivalent and follow-up was excellent (96.6%) compared with non-Veterans Affairs patients. CONCLUSIONS: A cooperative network using teleconference and computerized records facilitated bariatric surgery in high-risk, remotely located VA patients with high patient satisfaction and without compromising surgical outcomes.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1883

Publication Date

July 2011

Volume

202

Issue

1

Start / End Page

71 / 76

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Remote Consultation
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Middle Aged
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Male
  • Length of Stay
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Sudan, R., Salter, M., Lynch, T., & Jacobs, D. O. (2011). Bariatric surgery using a network and teleconferencing to serve remote patients in the Veterans Administration Health Care System: feasibility and results. Am J Surg, 202(1), 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.06.016
Sudan, Ranjan, Mary Salter, Thomas Lynch, and Danny O. Jacobs. “Bariatric surgery using a network and teleconferencing to serve remote patients in the Veterans Administration Health Care System: feasibility and results.Am J Surg 202, no. 1 (July 2011): 71–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.06.016.
Sudan, Ranjan, et al. “Bariatric surgery using a network and teleconferencing to serve remote patients in the Veterans Administration Health Care System: feasibility and results.Am J Surg, vol. 202, no. 1, July 2011, pp. 71–76. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2010.06.016.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Surg

DOI

EISSN

1879-1883

Publication Date

July 2011

Volume

202

Issue

1

Start / End Page

71 / 76

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  • United States
  • Surgery
  • Remote Consultation
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Middle Aged
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Male
  • Length of Stay