Interest in Improving Access to Pediatric Trauma Care Through Telemedicine

Despite improved outcomes at pediatric trauma centers (PTC), 90% of injured children are not treated at PTCs. Telemedicine may play a role in ensuring patients are transferred to the appropriate level of care. We aimed to determine the level of interest in trauma telemedicine with our PTC among referring facilities. A survey was conducted with the trauma program directors of 45 hospitals in Utah, which consisted of four multiple choice questions designed to determine interest in pediatric trauma telemedicine support, projected frequency of use, anticipated uses of telemedicine, and perceived barriers to implementation. Forty-one directors (91%) responded. 88% of directors were interested in developing a pediatric trauma telemedicine network. 20% estimated their center would use telemedicine more than once a week, 17% once a week, 24% once a month, and 37% a few times a year. The most frequently cited uses of a telemedicine program were triage/transfer decisions and provider support. Inadequate volume and insufficient funding were the most common perceived barriers. These data show there is a strong interest amongst hospitals in our state in pediatric trauma telemedicine. Inadequate volume to warrant a program and insufficient facility funding remain concerns for development of a program.