Teleotolaryngology: a retrospective review at a military tertiary treatment facility.

Objective/hypothesis: The use of real-time telemedicine in providing quality health-care in multiple specialties has been demonstrated in several small studies; however, a review of the literature reveals no large-scale prospective or retrospective telemedicine studies in otolaryngology. The telemedicine office at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) acquired a large otolaryngology telemedicine patient database, and this study reviews the otolaryngology telemedicine experience at NMCSD over an 18-month period.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective and reviewed new patient consults for the NMCSD otolaryngology telemedicine clinic from April 1, 2001, until November 6, 2002.