Adoption of Telemedicine for Multidisciplinary Care in Pediatric Otolaryngology

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Telemedicine
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated social isolation, impacting in-person healthcare delivery.
• Multidisciplinary clinics in pediatric otolaryngology face unique challenges due to increased infection risks.
• Limited guidance exists for implementing telemedicine in these specialized clinics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide comprehensive guidance on best practices for telemedicine in pediatric otolaryngology multidisciplinary clinics.
• To support the adoption of telemedicine in this specialized healthcare setting.
• To address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to patient care.

Main Methods:

• A review of existing literature on telemedicine in pediatric otolaryngology.
• Incorporation of experiences from a single tertiary care children's hospital.
• Development of best practice guidelines for telemedicine implementation.

Main Results:

• Successful adoption of telemedicine across 7 multidisciplinary pediatric otolaryngology clinics.
• Demonstrated feasibility for diverse specialties including aerodigestive disorders, hearing loss, and clefting.
• Telemedicine effectively managed patients with conditions like sleep disorders and velopharyngeal dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine is a viable and effective modality for multidisciplinary pediatric otolaryngology clinics.
• Optimizing telemedicine is crucial for managing complex pediatric otolaryngology cases.
• Telemedicine ensures continuity of care during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.