TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation of Telemedicine in Pediatric and Neonatal Transport
AU - Curfman, Alison
AU - Groenendyk, Jacob
AU - Markham, Chris
AU - Quayle, Kimberly
AU - Turmelle, Michael
AU - Tieken, Brandie
AU - Brancato, Celeste
AU - Saunders, Scott
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020
PY - 2020/7/1
Y1 - 2020/7/1
N2 - Objective: Telemedicine uses video technology to communicate visual clinical information. This study aimed to implement telemedicine in pediatric and neonatal transport, assess its value, and identify barriers. Methods: This prospective study implemented telemedicine before transport to a tertiary care children's hospital. A preimplementation survey assessed attitudes toward telemedicine and perceived barriers. During the 12-week pilot, a video connection was initiated between transport and medical control. We collected survey results measuring telemedicine usefulness and hindrance after each use. A postimplementation survey assessed opinions about when telemedicine was useful. Results: Initially, 82% of users had no direct experience with telemedicine. Perceived utility and burden of telemedicine varied significantly by department. During the study, telemedicine was offered 65% of the time, initiated in 47% of cases, and successful in 30% of cases. The greatest barrier was connectivity. Over time, transport members and physicians found telemedicine to be significantly more useful. In 14 cases, telemedicine changed patient outcome or management. Providers who reported a change in management rated telemedicine as significantly more useful. Conclusion: This prospective pilot successfully implemented telemedicine before pediatric transport. Telemedicine was more useful in patients with visual findings on examination and, in some cases, changed the clinical outcome.
AB - Objective: Telemedicine uses video technology to communicate visual clinical information. This study aimed to implement telemedicine in pediatric and neonatal transport, assess its value, and identify barriers. Methods: This prospective study implemented telemedicine before transport to a tertiary care children's hospital. A preimplementation survey assessed attitudes toward telemedicine and perceived barriers. During the 12-week pilot, a video connection was initiated between transport and medical control. We collected survey results measuring telemedicine usefulness and hindrance after each use. A postimplementation survey assessed opinions about when telemedicine was useful. Results: Initially, 82% of users had no direct experience with telemedicine. Perceived utility and burden of telemedicine varied significantly by department. During the study, telemedicine was offered 65% of the time, initiated in 47% of cases, and successful in 30% of cases. The greatest barrier was connectivity. Over time, transport members and physicians found telemedicine to be significantly more useful. In 14 cases, telemedicine changed patient outcome or management. Providers who reported a change in management rated telemedicine as significantly more useful. Conclusion: This prospective pilot successfully implemented telemedicine before pediatric transport. Telemedicine was more useful in patients with visual findings on examination and, in some cases, changed the clinical outcome.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85084394621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amj.2020.04.008
DO - 10.1016/j.amj.2020.04.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 32690303
AN - SCOPUS:85084394621
SN - 1067-991X
VL - 39
SP - 271
EP - 275
JO - Air Medical Journal
JF - Air Medical Journal
IS - 4
ER -