Implementation of a Pediatric Emergency Telemedicine Program. Issue 2 (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Ji Won; Friedman, Jonathan; Clark, Sunday; Hafeez, Baria; Listman, David; Lame, Maria; Eid, Dona Alma Bou; Sharma, Rahul; Platt, Shari
• Other Names: Harper Martin B. section editor.; Hoffman Jeffrey M. section editor.; Zorc Joseph J. section editor.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric emergency care. Volume 36:Issue 2(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: telemedicine -- virtual -- health care -- follow-up -- direct-to-consumer -- medical screening examination; Pediatric emergencies -- Periodicals; 618.92002505
• DOI: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0749-5161

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: Our goal was to describe the experiences after the launch of a pediatric emergency telemedicine program at a large, urban, academic medical center. Methods: We launched 3 unique pediatric emergency telemedicine programs at an urban, academic medical center: direct-to-consumer pediatric virtual urgent care, pediatric emergency department (PED) telemedicine follow-up, and telemedicine medical screening examination in the PED. Results: We evaluated 84 patients via direct-to-consumer pediatric virtual urgent care with the most common chief complaint related to fever, dermatologic, or respiratory systems; we referred 12% to the PED, and 20% of those required hospital admission. We evaluated 38 patients via PED telemedicine follow-up; we referred 19% back to the PED, and 43% of those required hospital admission. Median duration for a telemedicine encounter was 10 minutes. We screened 3809 patients in the PED using telemedicine medical screening examination. Conclusions: We offer a description of an innovative and comprehensive new pediatric emergency telemedicine program implemented at a large, urban, academic medical center. Our initial findings demonstrate short visit times, antibiotic stewardship, and low rates of PED referral and subsequent admission for patients who use a telemedicine service. We plan to further examine the impact of pediatric emergency telemedicine on the care of children as our program expands.