Perspectives on Telehealth Use with the Neonatal Population: Policy, Practice, and Implementation Considerations

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Medicine
• Healthcare Technology
• Public Health

Background:

• Telehealth is increasingly recognized for its utility in neonatal care.
• It supports families transitioning infants home and enables remote monitoring.
• It connects specialists with infants in underserved areas.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the benefits of telehealth in neonatal care.
• To inform clinicians about policy and regulatory considerations.
• To address potential health equity issues in neonatal telehealth.

Main Methods:

• This study is a review of current telehealth applications in neonatology.
• It synthesizes existing literature on policy, regulation, and health equity.
• No new clinical data was generated.

Main Results:

• Telehealth effectively supports home transitions and remote monitoring for neonates.
• It expands access to neonatal expertise for remote and underserved populations.
• Awareness of policies and health equity is crucial for clinicians.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth is a vital tool for modern neonatal care delivery.
• Navigating policy and addressing health equity are essential for successful implementation.
• Further research into optimizing telehealth for neonatal populations is warranted.