Research Reports from the Department of Operations

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

6-1-1977

Abstract

This study examines the implementation and evaluation of the Cleveland Telemedicine Project, an initiative designed to address the maldistribution of medical personnel between University Hospitals of Case Western Reserve University (UH) and nearby hospitals, including Forest City Hospital (FCH), a small community hospital in Cleveland’s inner city. Through electronic communication links, Telemedicine facilitated specialist consultations between UH and FCH, enhancing healthcare delivery where travel or specialist availability was limited. The project involved collaboration between medical, administrative, and engineering personnel, and the system was continuously evaluated. The Operations Research team conducted a systems approach evaluation, focusing on input, process, and output measurements. Findings highlight the potential for Telemedicine to optimize resource utilization and improve access to specialized care in multi-hospital settings. The final phase of the project covers the period from July 1976 to April 1977, with earlier phases documented in previous reports.

Keywords

Operations research, Forest City Hospital (Cleveland, Ohio), University Hospitals of Cleveland (Ohio), Telecommunication in medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Hospitals--Ohio--Cleveland, Medical care--Technological innovations, Medical care--Quality control, Hospitals--Technological innovations, Medical personnel--Supply and demand

Publication Title

Technical Memorandums from the Department of Operations, School of Management, Case Western Reserve University

Issue

Technical memorandum no. 423

Rights

This work is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded for personal or academic use

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