Background: Wide coverage of internet and telephonic access have the power to provide physicians with access to an abundance of electronic medical information. This information is available in a variety of forms that may be used to support clinical decision making. Mobile phone applications like Skype Whats App and telephonic conversations are widely used as means of communication in the medical community. This is inexpensive when compared to two­way, fully interactive, real­time, video telemedicine. Methods: The study is an observational retrospective study conducted in the Department of Plastic Surgery, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (Jipmer), Pondicherry from March 2015 to April 2016. The tele­ward rounds consisted of WhatsApp messages and telephonic conversations between the consultant and the residents. At the end of the study period, the feedback was obtained from consultants, residents and analyzed. Results: The consultants and residents found the tele­ward rounds to be a userfriendly and cost­effective method to obtain support from consultants in less time­critical contexts. Conclusion: Tele­rounds is found to be a promising method of communication, especially in nonemergency situations where there is a limited number of consultants or the respective consultant is on leave. It is User­friendly and cost­effective means to obtain decision support from consultants in less time­critical contexts.

Keywords: Telemedicine; Tele­Ward Rounds.