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The Use of Telehealth to Improve Handoffs Between Neonatologists and Primary Care Providers for Medically Complex
Kristin Hoffman1, Christina Olson2, Jeanne Zenge2
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.
Insights
This study improved communication for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients by using telehealth for enhanced hospital handoffs. Telehealth facilitated better care coordination between families, primary care providers, and NICU teams.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Telemedicine
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Improving communication between Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) teams and primary care providers (PCPs) is crucial for patient outcomes.
- The Supporting Pediatric Research Outcomes Utilizing Telehealth (SPROUT) collaboration aimed to enhance hospital handoffs using telehealth.
Observation:
- Three institutions participated in the SPROUT collaboration.
- Telehealth was used to connect NICU patients' families, PCPs, and NICU teams.
Findings:
- Four cases demonstrated the benefits of enhanced telehealth hospital handoffs.
- These included assisting with care plan changes, demonstrating physical findings, incorporating subspecialties, and arranging remote patient care.
Implications:
- Enhanced telehealth handoffs show potential for improving pediatric care coordination.
- Further research is needed to assess the acceptability and impact of these telehealth interventions on patient outcomes.
Abstract:
As part of the Supporting Pediatric Research Outcomes Utilizing Telehealth (SPROUT) collaboration, three institutions (University of California, Davis, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) sought to improve communication with primary care providers (PCPs) using telehealth. This project connected families of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients, their PCPs, and their NICU team through telehealth to provide an enhanced hospital handoff. This case series reports four cases that exemplify the benefits of these enhanced hospital handoffs: Case 1: assisting with changing care plans after NICU discharge, Case 2: demonstrating physical findings, Case 3: incorporation of additional subspecialties through telehealth, Case 4: arranging care for remote patients. Although these cases demonstrate some of the potential benefits of these handoffs, further study is needed to determine acceptability of these handoffs and to see whether they impact patient outcomes.
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