O-24 Innovating access: evaluating the impact of Telemedicine on healthcare delivery in hinterland regions of Guyana
Author(s):
O Scott, F Anthony
Year of Presentation:
2026
Objective: To evaluate the impact of telemedicine as a sustainable healthcare solution for improving access, quality, and continuity of care in Guyana (2024–2025), and to assess the clinical and access related impact of telemedicine using an impact matrix framework; evaluate the cost effectiveness of telemedicine relative to traditional medical evacuation models and examine patient and provider satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of telemedicine services
Methods: A mixed-methods study was conducted across all telemedicine sites in Guyana. Data were extracted from the site platform and MoH facility records, capturing service utilization, demographics, diagnostic categories, referral patterns, device usage, and consultation timeliness. Cost analysis compared national medical evacuation trends (2020–2025) with telemedicine implementation costs. Surveys were administered to patients and Health Workers
Results: By 2025, 81 telemedicine sites were installed nationwide (74% basic, 26% advanced). Between 2024 and 2025, 14,451 patient visits were recorded, with higher utilization in 2024 (59%). Pediatric care was the leading consultation category. The cumulative telemedicine investment (2022–2025) was USD 1.61 million. National medical evacuations declined by approximately 26% following programme scale up. Between 2023 and 2025, an estimated 406 medical evacuations were avoided, yielding USD 1.13 million in gross savings (70%) cost recovery. Platform level analysis showed that 834 potential evacuations were managed on site in 2024 and 2025, corresponding to over USD 2.3 million in avoided costs, with a 12:1 ratio of avoided evacuations. A total of 94 participants completed the survey, over 90% of respondents agreed that telemedicine improved patient care and clinical decision making, while 85% reported reduced referrals. However, 56% experienced connectivity or technical challenges, reflecting in lower scores for system usability.
Conclusion: Telemedicine serves as a transformative solution for Guyana’s rural healthcare. Despite limitations in 2025 data completeness and potential self-reporting bias, the study’s 81-site coverage provides a high-confidence national baseline.