Telehealth in pediatric primary care

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Telehealth, encompassing telephone triage and video communication, has a long history in pediatrics.
• Its utilization surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting its potential beyond traditional methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the applications and benefits of telehealth in pediatric care.
• To address challenges in managing acute pediatric conditions, children with medical complexity, and well-child care.

Main Methods:

• Review of telehealth applications in pediatric practice.
• Discussion of integrating telehealth into the pediatric patient-centered medical home.
• Consideration of hybrid models combining in-person and virtual visits.

Main Results:

• Telehealth effectively manages many acute pediatric conditions, especially with remote physical exam tools.
• It significantly benefits children with medical complexity by reducing travel burdens.
• Hybrid models can balance in-person needs with virtual convenience for well-child care.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth integration enhances convenience and maintains patient-provider relationships in pediatric care.
• It offers a scalable solution for improving access and quality of care for diverse pediatric populations.