Telehealth Improves Access and Efficiency in Pediatric Plastic Surgery: A Study on Surgical Conversion Rates and Time...

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Pediatric Surgery
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Telemedicine is a proven healthcare tool, but its use in Pediatric Plastic Surgery is understudied.
• This study examines telehealth's impact at a high-volume Pediatric Plastic Surgery center.
• The research aims to assess telehealth's role in improving access and patient care pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth in Pediatric Plastic Surgery.
• To determine if telehealth expands access to care for remote patients.
• To analyze the impact of telehealth on surgical conversion rates and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patient referral data from January 2020 to December 2024.
• Inclusion of all patients referred to a tertiary pediatric hospital's plastic surgery department.
• Comparative analysis of telehealth versus in-person consultations, including in-state and out-of-state referrals.

Main Results:

• Telehealth consultations showed significantly higher surgical conversion rates (60.5%) compared to in-person visits (47.6%).
• Out-of-state patients utilizing telehealth had markedly higher surgical conversion rates (70.1%) versus in-person (36.9%).
• No significant difference in time to surgery was observed between telehealth and in-person cohorts.

Conclusions:

• Telehealth is crucial for enhancing access in Pediatric Plastic Surgery, particularly for distant patients.
• Higher surgical conversion rates with telehealth suggest streamlined planning and reduced travel burdens.
• Integrating telehealth can improve patient access, optimize resources, and expand care for underserved populations.