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Eldredge RS, Moore Z, Smith J, Barnes K, Norton SP, Larsen K, Padilla BE, Swendiman RA, Fenton SJ, Russell KW. A pediatric teletrauma program pilot project: Improves access to pediatric trauma care and timely assessment of pediatric traumas. J Trauma Acute Care Surg 2024; 97:434-439. [PMID: 38197703 DOI: 10.1097/ta.0000000000004241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Geographic location is a barrier to providing specialized care to pediatric traumas. In 2019, we instituted a pediatric teletrauma program in collaboration with the Statewide Pediatric Trauma Network at our level 1 pediatric trauma center (PTC). Triage guidelines were provided to partnering hospitals (PHs) to aid in evaluation of pediatric traumas. Our pediatric trauma team was available for phone/video trauma consultation to provide recommendations on disposition and management. We hypothesized that this program would improve access and timely assessment of pediatric traumas while limiting patient transfers to our PTC. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the PTC between January 2019 and May 2023. All pediatric trauma patients younger than 18 years who had teletrauma consults were included. We also evaluated all avoidable transfers without teletrauma consults defined as admission for less than 36 hours without an intervention or imaging as a comparison group. RESULTS A total of 151 teletrauma consults were identified: 62% male and median age of 8 years (interquartile range [IQR], 4-12 years). Teletrauma consults increased from 12 in 2019 to 100 in 2022 to 2023, and the number of PHs increased from 2 to 32. Partnering hospitals were 15 to 554 miles from the PTC, with a median distance of 34 miles (IQR, 28-119 miles). Following consultation, we recommended discharge (34%), admission (29%), or transfer to PTC (35%). Of those who were not transferred, 3% (3 of 97) required subsequent treatment at the PTC. Nontransferred teletrauma consults had a higher percentage of TBI (61% vs. 31%, p < 0.001) and were from farther distances (40 miles [IQR, 28-150 miles] vs. 30 miles [IQR, 28-50 miles], p < 0.001) compared with avoidable transferred patients without a teletrauma consult. CONCLUSION Teletrauma consult is a safe and viable addition to a pediatric trauma program faced with providing care to a large geographical catchment area. The pediatric teletrauma program provided management recommendations to 32 PHs and avoided transfer in approximately 63% of cases. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Scott Eldredge
- From the Department of Surgery (R.S.E., K.L., R.A.S., S.J.F., K.W.R.), Division of Pediatric Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; Department of Surgery (R.S.E.), The Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Arizona; Department of Surgery (R.S.E., B.E.P.), Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix Arizona; Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine (Z.M.), University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery (J.S., K.B., S.P.N.), Intermountain Healthcare
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Osmanlliu E, Burstein B, Tamblyn R, Buckeridge DL. Assessing the potential for virtualizable care in the pediatric emergency department. J Telemed Telecare 2024; 30:1249-1260. [PMID: 36408736 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x221133415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is increasing interest for patient-to-provider telemedicine in pediatric acute care. The suitability of telemedicine (virtualizability) for visits in this setting has not been formally assessed. We estimated the proportion of in-person pediatric emergency department (PED) visits that were potentially virtualizable, and identified factors associated with virtualizable care. METHODS This was a retrospective analysis of in-person visits at the PED of a Canadian tertiary pediatric hospital (02/2018-12/2019). Three definitions of virtualizable care were developed: (1) a definition based on "resource use" classifying visits as virtualizable if they resulted in a home discharge, no diagnostic testing, and no return visit within 72 h; (2) a "diagnostic definition" based on primary ED diagnosis; and (3) a stringent "combined definition" by which visits were classified as virtualizable if they met both the resource use and diagnostic definitions. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with telemedicine suitability. RESULTS There were 130,535 eligible visits from 80,727 individual patients during the study period. Using the most stringent combined definition of telemedicine suitability, 37.9% (95% confidence interval (CI) 37.6%-38.2%) of in-person visits were virtualizable. Overnight visits (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.16-1.37), non-Canadian citizenship (aOR 1.10-1.18), ethnocultural vulnerability (aOR 1.14-1.22), and a consultation for head trauma (aOR 3.50-4.60) were associated with higher telemedicine suitability across definitions. DISCUSSION There is a high potential for patient-to-provider telemedicine in the PED setting. Local patient and visit-level characteristics must be considered in the design of safe and inclusive telemedicine models for pediatric acute care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esli Osmanlliu
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- McGill Clinical & Health Informatics (MCHI) Research Group, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Brett Burstein
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine Division, McGill University Health Center, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Robyn Tamblyn
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- McGill Clinical & Health Informatics (MCHI) Research Group, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - David L Buckeridge
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- McGill Clinical & Health Informatics (MCHI) Research Group, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
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Eljack MMF, Elhadi YAM, Mahgoub EAA, Ahmed KAHM, Mohamed MTAA, Elnaiem W, Mohamedsharif A, Nour AB, Muhammed AEM, Gebril MSM, Asghar MS, El-Osta A. Physician experiences with teleconsultations amidst conflict in Sudan. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22688. [PMID: 38114741 PMCID: PMC10730898 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49967-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The current conflict in Sudan severely hinders the accessibility of health services across the country. To address this, several initiatives were proposed including offering services using teleconsultations. This study aimed to assess Sudanese doctors' teleconsultation experience, perception, and concerns during the recent conflict. This cross-sectional survey focused on Sudanese medical officers, residents, specialists, and consultants living inside or outside the country having a practice license from the Sudan Medical Council and conducting teleconsultations with Sudanese patients during the conflict period. The questionnaire was distributed to personal and professional contacts and via social media platforms in the English language among doctors who provided teleconsultation during the conflict. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 26. The study enrolled 2463 clinicians from 17 different specialties, and females represented more than half the sample (56.8%). Internal medicine was the most frequent specialty (36.1%) and the majority (68.7%) of clinicians had less than 5 years of work experience. Voice call was the most frequent platform (50.1%) used for teleconsultation during the conflict and had the highest convenience score (p < 0.01), whereas messaging platforms had the lowest score. Most clinicians (73.3%) agreed that teleconsultations created a trusted patient-physician relationship and provided good-quality care (61.8%). However, 85.1% highlighted the importance of physical touch in medical practice. Clinicians were concerned that incomplete information (81.4%), missed diagnosis (76.8%), medicolegal problems (71.0%), and prescription errors (68.4%) could arise with teleconsultations. Most respondents (70.7%) emphasized the importance of continuing to offer teleconsultation even after the war abated. In conclusion, physicians who participated in the current study agreed that teleconsultation provided quality care even in this dire crisis in Sudan. Based on our study findings, we recommend upscaling telemedicine interventions including teleconsultations at the national level. This would require unified coordination efforts of a wide mix of stakeholders to address concerns identified in the current study.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Walaa Elnaiem
- Community Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alneelain, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Asma Mohamedsharif
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
| | - Alshareef B Nour
- Wad Medani College of Medical Sciences and Technology, Wad Medani, Sudan
| | | | | | | | - Austen El-Osta
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Heppner S, Mohr NM, Carter KD, Ullrich F, Merchant KAS, Ward MM. HRSA's evidence-based tele-emergency network grant program: Multi-site prospective cohort analysis across six rural emergency department telemedicine networks. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0243211. [PMID: 33434197 PMCID: PMC7802919 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) funded the Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program (EB TNGP) to serve the dual purpose of providing telehealth services in rural emergency departments (teleED) and systematically collecting data to inform the telehealth evidence base. This provided a unique opportunity to examine trends across multiple teleED networks and examine heterogeneity in processes and outcomes. Method and findings Six health systems received funding from HRSA under the EB TNGP to implement teleED services and they did so to 65 hospitals (91% rural) in 11 states. Three of the grantees provided teleED services to a general patient population while the remaining three grantees provided teleED services to specialized patient populations (i.e., stroke, behavioral health, critically ill children). Over a 26-month period (November 1, 2015 –December 31, 2017), each grantee submitted patient-level data for all their teleED encounters on a uniform set of measures to the data coordinating center. The six grantees reported a total of 4,324 teleED visits and 99.86% were technically successful. The teleED patients were predominantly adult, White, not Latinx, and covered by Medicare or private insurance. Across grantees, 7% of teleED patients needed resuscitation services, 58% were rated as emergent, and 30% were rated as urgent. Across grantees, 44.2% of teleED patients were transferred to another inpatient facility, 26.0% had a routine discharge, and 24.5% were admitted to the local inpatient facility. For the three grantees who served a general patient population, the most frequent presenting complaints for which teleED was activated were chest pain (25.7%), injury or trauma (17.1%), stroke symptoms (9.9%), mental/behavioral health (9.8%), and cardiac arrest (9.5%). The teleED consultation began before the local clinician exam in 37.8% of patients for the grantees who served a general patient population, but in only 1.9% of patients for the grantees who provided specialized services. Conclusions Grantees used teleED services for a representative rural population with urgent or emergent symptoms largely resulting in transfer to a distant hospital or inpatient admission locally. TeleED was often available as the first point of contact before a local provider examination. This finding points to the important role of teleED in improving access for rural ED patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Heppner
- Federal Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Rockville, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Nicholas M. Mohr
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Anesthesia Critical Care, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Knute D. Carter
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Fred Ullrich
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Kimberly A. S. Merchant
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Marcia M. Ward
- Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
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Rosenthal JL, Sauers-Ford HS, Snyder M, Hamline MY, Benton AS, Joo S, Natale JE, Plant JL. Testing Pediatric Emergency Telemedicine Implementation Strategies Using Quality Improvement Methods. Telemed J E Health 2020; 27:459-463. [PMID: 32580661 DOI: 10.1089/tmj.2020.0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Despite the recognized benefits of telemedicine use for pediatric emergency consultations, there are barriers to the widespread uptake of this technology. Quality improvement methods can be used to rapidly test implementation strategies. Our objective was to test telemedicine implementation strategies in real-world application using quality improvement methods. Our quality improvement aim was to achieve high rates of telemedicine use for pediatric transfer consultations. Methods: A multidisciplinary multisite improvement team identified that key drivers of increasing telemedicine use included telemedicine resource awareness, streamlined telemedicine workflow, provider buy-in, and data transparency. Interventions focused on telemedicine trainings, disseminating telemedicine uptake data, telemedicine reminders, telemedicine test calls, and preparing for telemedicine use for every transfer consultation. The outcome measure was percentage of pediatric emergency transfer consultations that used telemedicine. The balancing measure was time (minutes) from the initial transfer center call to completion of the consultation. Results: Multiple plan-do-study-act cycles were associated with special cause variation, with an upward shift in mean percentage of telemedicine use from 5% to 22%. Time from initial call to consultation completion remained unchanged. Conclusion: Our study supports the use of quality improvement methods to test telemedicine implementation strategies for pediatric telemedicine emergency consultations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Rosenthal
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Hadley S Sauers-Ford
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Moina Snyder
- Department of Pediatrics, Lodi Memorial Hospital, Lodi, California, USA
| | - Michelle Y Hamline
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Angela S Benton
- Department of Pediatrics, Lodi Memorial Hospital, Lodi, California, USA
| | - Sharon Joo
- Department of Pediatrics, Mercy Medical Center Redding Hospital, Redding, California, USA
| | - JoAnne E Natale
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Jennifer L Plant
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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Jacob C, Sanchez-Vazquez A, Ivory C. Social, Organizational, and Technological Factors Impacting Clinicians' Adoption of Mobile Health Tools: Systematic Literature Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020; 8:e15935. [PMID: 32130167 PMCID: PMC7059085 DOI: 10.2196/15935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the potential of mobile health (mHealth) in reducing health care costs, enhancing access, and improving the quality of patient care. However, user acceptance and adoption are key prerequisites to harness this potential; hence, a deeper understanding of the factors impacting this adoption is crucial for its success. Objective The aim of this review was to systematically explore relevant published literature to synthesize the current understanding of the factors impacting clinicians’ adoption of mHealth tools, not only from a technological perspective but also from social and organizational perspectives. Methods A structured search was carried out of MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the SAGE database for studies published between January 2008 and July 2018 in the English language, yielding 4993 results, of which 171 met the inclusion criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines and the Cochrane handbook were followed to ensure a systematic process. Results The technological factors impacting clinicians’ adoption of mHealth tools were categorized into eight key themes: usefulness, ease of use, design, compatibility, technical issues, content, personalization, and convenience, which were in turn divided into 14 subthemes altogether. Social and organizational factors were much more prevalent and were categorized into eight key themes: workflow related, patient related, policy and regulations, culture or attitude or social influence, monetary factors, evidence base, awareness, and user engagement. These were divided into 41 subthemes, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when addressing potential barriers to mHealth adoption and how to overcome them. Conclusions The study results can help inform mHealth providers and policymakers regarding the key factors impacting mHealth adoption, guiding them into making educated decisions to foster this adoption and harness the potential benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Jacob
- Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom.,University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Brugg, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Sanchez-Vazquez
- Innovation and Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Ivory
- Innovation and Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Jacob C, Sanchez-Vazquez A, Ivory C. Social, Organizational, and Technological Factors Impacting Clinicians' Adoption of Mobile Health Tools: Systematic Literature Review. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2020. [PMID: 32130167 DOI: 10.2196/preprints.15935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a growing body of evidence highlighting the potential of mobile health (mHealth) in reducing health care costs, enhancing access, and improving the quality of patient care. However, user acceptance and adoption are key prerequisites to harness this potential; hence, a deeper understanding of the factors impacting this adoption is crucial for its success. OBJECTIVE The aim of this review was to systematically explore relevant published literature to synthesize the current understanding of the factors impacting clinicians' adoption of mHealth tools, not only from a technological perspective but also from social and organizational perspectives. METHODS A structured search was carried out of MEDLINE, PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the SAGE database for studies published between January 2008 and July 2018 in the English language, yielding 4993 results, of which 171 met the inclusion criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines and the Cochrane handbook were followed to ensure a systematic process. RESULTS The technological factors impacting clinicians' adoption of mHealth tools were categorized into eight key themes: usefulness, ease of use, design, compatibility, technical issues, content, personalization, and convenience, which were in turn divided into 14 subthemes altogether. Social and organizational factors were much more prevalent and were categorized into eight key themes: workflow related, patient related, policy and regulations, culture or attitude or social influence, monetary factors, evidence base, awareness, and user engagement. These were divided into 41 subthemes, highlighting the importance of considering these factors when addressing potential barriers to mHealth adoption and how to overcome them. CONCLUSIONS The study results can help inform mHealth providers and policymakers regarding the key factors impacting mHealth adoption, guiding them into making educated decisions to foster this adoption and harness the potential benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Jacob
- Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland, Brugg, Switzerland
| | - Antonio Sanchez-Vazquez
- Innovation and Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Ivory
- Innovation and Management Practice Research Centre, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Sauers‐Ford HS, Hamline MY, Gosdin MM, Kair LR, Weinberg GM, Marcin JP, Rosenthal JL. Acceptability, Usability, and Effectiveness: A Qualitative Study Evaluating a Pediatric Telemedicine Program. Acad Emerg Med 2019; 26:1022-1033. [PMID: 30974004 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Revised: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric emergency telemedicine consultations have been shown to provide support to community emergency departments treating critically ill pediatric patients. However, despite the recognized value of telemedicine, adoption has been slow. To determine why clinicians frequently do not use telemedicine when it is available for pediatric patients, as well as to learn how to improve telemedicine programs, we conducted a qualitative study using stakeholder interviews. METHODS We conducted a qualitative study using grounded theory methodology, with in-depth interviews of referring and accepting physicians and referring, transport, and transfer center nurses. We analyzed data iteratively and adapted the interview guide based on early interviews. We solicited feedback from the participants on the conceptual model. RESULTS Sixteen interviews were conducted; all respondents had been involved in a telemedicine consultation at least five times, with some having used telemedicine more than 30 times. Analysis resulted in three themes: 1) recognizing and addressing telemedicine biases are central to gaining buy-in; 2) as technology advances, telemedicine processes need to adapt accordingly; and 3) telemedicine increases collaboration among health care providers and patients/families in the patient care process. CONCLUSIONS To improve patient care through increased use of telemedicine for pediatric emergency consultations, processes need to be modified to address provider biases and end-user concerns. Processes should be adapted to allow users to utilize a variety of technologies (including smartphones) and to enable more users, such as nurses, to participate. Finally, telemedicine can be used to improve the patient and family experience by including them in consultations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Melissa M. Gosdin
- Center for Healthcare Policy and Research University of California Davis Sacramento CA
| | - Laura R. Kair
- Department of Pediatrics University of California Davis Sacramento CA
| | - Gary M. Weinberg
- Center for Healthcare Policy and Research University of California Davis Sacramento CA
| | - James P. Marcin
- Department of Pediatrics University of California Davis Sacramento CA
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Kommaraju K, Haynes JH, Ritter AM. Evaluating the Role of a Neurosurgery Consultation in Management of Pediatric Isolated Linear Skull Fractures. Pediatr Neurosurg 2019; 54:21-27. [PMID: 30673671 DOI: 10.1159/000495792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine if a pediatric neurosurgical consultation for isolated linear skull fractures (ILSF) in pediatric patients with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of ≥14 changed their management. METHODS A 10-year retrospective chart review at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center was performed. Exclusion criteria were age > 18 years, open, depressed, or skull base fractures, pneumocephalus, poly-trauma, any hemorrhage (intraparenchymal, epidural, subdural, subarachnoid), cervical spine fractures, penetrating head trauma, and initial GCS scores ≤13. Primary outcomes were neurosurgery recommendations to change acuity of care, obtain additional imaging studies, and perform invasive procedures. Secondary outcomes were patient demographics, injury type, transfer status, admitting service, length of hospital stay, consult location, and clinical course. RESULTS There were 127 cases of ILSF meeting study criteria with an average age of 2.36 years. Unilateral parietal bone fracture was the most common injury (46.5%). Falls were the most common mechanism (81.1%). All patients received pediatric neurosurgical consultations within 24 h of hospital arrival. There were no neurosurgical recommendations to obtain additional imaging studies, change acuity of care, or perform invasive procedures. CONCLUSIONS Routine neurosurgical consultation in children with ILSF and GCS 14-15 does not appear to alter clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavya Kommaraju
- Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA,
| | - Jeffrey H Haynes
- Children's Trauma Center, Children's Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Ann M Ritter
- Department of Neurosurgery, Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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Brova M, Boggs KM, Zachrison KS, Freid RD, Sullivan AF, Espinola JA, Boyle T, Camargo CA. Pediatric Telemedicine Use in United States Emergency Departments. Acad Emerg Med 2018; 25:1427-1432. [PMID: 30307078 DOI: 10.1111/acem.13629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 09/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The receipt of remote clinical care for children via telecommunications (pediatric telemedicine) appears to improve access to and quality of care in U.S. emergency departments (EDs), but the actual prevalence and characteristics of pediatric telemedicine receipt remain unclear. We determined the prevalence and current applications of pediatric telemedicine in U.S. EDs, focusing on EDs that received telemedicine from clinicians at other facilities. METHODS We surveyed all 5,375 U.S. EDs to characterize emergency care in 2016. We then randomly surveyed 130 (39%) of the 337 EDs who reported receiving pediatric telemedicine. The second survey was administered by phone to ED directors primarily. It confirmed that the ED received pediatric telemedicine services in 2017 and asked about ED staffing and the nature, purpose, and concerns with pediatric telemedicine implementation. RESULTS The first survey (4,507/5,375, 84% response) showed that 337 (8%) EDs reported receiving pediatric telemedicine. Among the randomly sampled EDs completing the second survey (107/130, 82% response), 96 (90%) confirmed 2016 use and 89 (83%) confirmed 2017 use. Reasons for discontinuation included technical and scheduling concerns. Almost all who confirmed their pediatric telemedicine use in 2017 also reported 24/7 availability (98%). The most widely reported use was for patient placement and transfer coordination (80%). Many EDs (39%) reported no challenges with implementing pediatric telemedicine and described its utility. However, the most frequently reported challenges were process concerns (30%), such as concerns about slowing or interrupting providers' work flow and technological concerns (14%). CONCLUSION Few EDs receive telemedicine for the delivery of pediatric emergency care nationally. Among EDs that do use telemedicine for pediatric care, many report process concerns. Addressing these barriers through focused education or interventions may support EDs in further developing and optimizing this technological adjunct to pediatric emergency care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Brova
- Department of Epidemiology Boston University School of Public Health Boston MA
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Krislyn M. Boggs
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Kori S. Zachrison
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Rachel D. Freid
- Department of Environmental Health Boston University School of Public Health Boston MA
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Ashley F. Sullivan
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Janice A. Espinola
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
| | - Tehnaz P. Boyle
- Department of Pediatrics Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Boston Medical Center Boston MA
| | - Carlos A. Camargo
- Department of Emergency Medicine Massachusetts General Hospital Boston MA
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The Current State of the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Workforce and Innovations to Improve Pediatric Care. CLINICAL PEDIATRIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpem.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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