Objective:

To systematically summarize the structural features of telemedicine interventions, evaluate their impact on in-hospital care processes, and assess their impact on patient outcomes, emphasizing the systematic review methodology.

Key Findings:

• Most studies reported improved care processes such as timeliness, treatment appropriateness, and diagnostic accuracy, while outcomes like mortality and readmission showed mixed results.
• Meta-analysis showed reduced hospital length of stay (mean difference -1.03 days) but increased readmissions (risk ratio 1.18).
• Effectiveness of telemedicine varies based on patient conditions, application settings, interprofessional collaboration models, and workflows.

Interpretation:

Telemedicine can enhance interprofessional collaboration and improve care processes, but its impact on patient outcomes is inconsistent and context-dependent, highlighting the need for tailored approaches.

Limitations:

• Variable quality of included studies, with some showing moderate-to-high risk of bias, particularly in randomization and blinding.
• Mixed results on patient outcomes such as mortality and readmission rates, indicating the need for further research.

Conclusion:

Telemedicine functions as a structural change that supports improved care processes in hospitals, but its effectiveness is influenced by various factors, necessitating context-specific evaluations.