Telemedicine for Pediatric Nephrology: Perspectives on COVID-19, Future Practices, and Work Flow Changes

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Telemedicine
• Healthcare Workflow Optimization

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine adoption, particularly in rural healthcare settings.
• Rapid implementation led to a lack of standardized workflows for pediatric nephrology care.
• Existing processes were insufficient for assessing and treating pediatric nephrotic conditions via telemedicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop standardized workflows for assessing and treating pediatric nephrotic conditions using telemedicine.
• To provide a foundation for future standardized telemedicine practices in pediatric nephrology.
• To address challenges identified by patients and providers during telemedicine consultations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Delphi method to create standardized workflows.
• Informed workflow development with cross-sectional survey data from pediatric patients and healthcare providers.
• Gathered insights on patient/provider satisfaction and common telemedicine-related issues.

Main Results:

• Developed standardized workflows for pediatric nephrology telemedicine.
• Patient satisfaction with telemedicine visits was high at 87%.
• Provider satisfaction was also significant at 71%, though challenges like laboratory result procurement and lack of personal warmth were noted.

Conclusions:

• The developed workflows aim to enhance safety and optimize care delivery in pediatric nephrology telemedicine.
• Addressing identified issues can further improve the telemedicine experience for children with nephrotic conditions.
• Standardization is crucial for effective and safe telemedicine implementation in specialized pediatric care.