Successful Fetal Tele-Echo at a Small Regional Hospital

A pediatric telecardiology system that facilitates integration between hospital-based services and community-based primary care

INTRODUCTION

Telecardiology has emerged as a vital field within telemedicine, fostering collaboration between hospital and community medicine. This pilot study introduces an innovative pediatric telecardiology system, comprising a telecardiology system seamlessly integrated with a hospital telemedicine platform. A smooth flow of ECG execution, transmission, and reporting between Primary Care Pediatrician clinics and the hospital was tested as the primary objective. User experience surveys were also considered.

METHODS

The study involved three Primary Care Pediatrician clinics, and the enrollment of children took place consecutively from January to July 2023. We integrated a digital electrocardiographic signal acquisition unit and online information transmission-capable tablets, that were provided to the pediatricians, with a telemedicine multitenant platform that facilitated the transmission of the patient's ECG data from the community to the Hospital Pediatric Cardiologist.

RESULTS

A total of 158 children (80 M/78F, 8.9 ± 2.8 yrs) underwent ECG recording (78.5 % medical certificates, 21.5 % presence of symptoms) The transmission and reporting of ECGs were successfully completed in all cases, without technical issues. Normal findings on the ECG were demonstrated in 94.9 % of children. 70.8 % of respondents completed all parts of the survey. Respondents had a high level of education (90 %) and demonstrated excellent or good competence in using digital technologies (89 %). 51 % of respondents were not familiar with the term "Telemedicine" and 81 % of the cases had no previous telemedicine experience. 90 % of users were very satisfied or satisfied with the service. Connection problems (2.8 %) and concerns about the service's reliability compared to standard care (3.7 %) were mentioned as possible limitations of the telecardiology.

CONCLUSIONS

Our pediatric telecardiology system offers a valuable diagnostic tool to enhance patient management in the community.

Use of fetal tele-echo at small regional hospitals increases the rate of prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND

To improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis of Congenital heart disease (CHD) in Kentucky, four fetal tele-echocardiography sites were established at regional hospitals in Kentucky: Ashland in 2011, Paducah in 2014, Lexington in 2014, and Owensboro in 2016.

METHODS

A 13-year retrospective review of medical records at Norton Children's Hospital was performed to identify patients with CHD who had cardiac surgery or intervention prior to one year of age. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to establishing any fetal tele-echocardiography sites was compared to the rate of prenatal diagnosis after the sites were established. Independent t-tests were used to determine if there was a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis.

RESULTS

1287 patients had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention prior to one year of age at our institution from June 2005 to December 2018 and were included in the analysis. Seventeen patients were excluded due to incomplete medical records. The rate of prenatal diagnosis prior to the implementation of the first fetal tele-echocardiography site was 13.8% and after the sites were established, the prenatal diagnosis rate was 39.7% (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Increasing the number of fetal tele-echocardiography sites at small regional hospitals in Kentucky was associated with a statistically significant increase in the rate of prenatal diagnosis for patients less than 1 year of age who had cardiac surgery or cath lab intervention at Norton Children's Hospital in Louisville. Fetal tele-echocardiography is an effective method to improve the rate of prenatal diagnosis in regions served by small regional hospitals with limited access to fetal echocardiography.

Congenital Heart Disease

Most children with congenital heart disease (CHD) survive to adulthood, owing largely to significant advances in the diagnosis and management of CHD over the past few decades. Primary care providers are essential partners in the recognition and management of these patients in our current medical environment. This article reviews the role of the primary care physician in detecting fetuses, infants, and children with possible CHD. Furthermore, this article discusses common primary care issues arising for patients with CHD, including growth and development, mental illness, dental care, and the transition to adult primary care.

Telemedicine in High-Risk Obstetrics

Telemedicine involves the use of technology to provide services to patients and share medical information. Telemedicine's use has increased as technology has advanced. It allows for medicine to be practiced from a distance to reach patients in rural or underserved areas. Telemedicine has widespread uses in high-risk obstetrics, including management of diabetes, diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, screening for fetal malformations with teleultrasound, delivering care to underserved areas, and more. The use of telemedicine to provide care to patients and information to health care providers at a distance has been well accepted by the patients and providers.

Mobile Health Applications for Prenatal Assessment and Monitoring

BACKGROUND

A mobile health application is an exciting, fast-paced domain that is likely to improve prenatal care.

METHODS

In this narrative review, we summarise the use of mobile health applications in this setting with a special emphasis on both the benefits of remote monitoring devices and the potential pitfalls of their use, highlighting the need for robust regulations and guidelines before their widespread introduction into prenatal care.

RESULTS

Remote monitoring devices for four areas of prenatal care are reported: (1) cardio-tocography; (2) blood glucose levels; (3) blood pressure; and (4) prenatal ultrasound. The majority of publications are pilot projects on remote consultation, education, coaching, screening, monitoring and selective booking, mostly reporting potential medical and/or economic benefits by mobile health applications over conventional care for very specific situations, indications and locations, but not always generalizable.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the potential advantages of these devices, some caution must be taken when implementing this technology into routine daily practice. To date, the majority of published research on mobile health in the prenatal setting consists of observational studies and there is a need for high-quality randomized controlled trials to confirm the reported clinical and economic benefits as well as the safety of this technology. There is also a need for guidance and governance on the development and validation of new apps and devices and for the implementation of mobile health technology into healthcare systems in both high and low-income settings. Finally, digital communication technologies offer perspectives towards exploration and development of the very new domain of tele-pharmacology.

Rural health, telemedicine and access for pediatric surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Access to care for children requiring pediatric general or specialty surgery or trauma care who live in rural areas remains a challenge in the United States.

RECENT FINDINGS

The expertise of specialists in tertiary centers can be extended to rural and underserved areas using telemedicine. There are challenges to making these resources available that need to be methodically approached to facilitate appropriate relationships between hospitals and providers. Programs, such as the National Pediatric Readiness Project and the HRSA Emergency Medical Services for Children Program enhance the capability of the emergency care system to function optimally, keep children at the home hospital if resources are available, facilitate transfer of patients and relationship building, and develop necessary transfer protocols and guidelines between hospitals.

SUMMARY

Telehealth services have the potential to enhance the reach of tertiary care for children in rural and underserved areas where surgical and trauma specialty care is not readily available, particularly when used to augment the objectives of national programs.