Bridging the Gap: Subspecialty Telemedicine Consultations at a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Beatrix T. Shikani, Helen Hughes, Emmanuel Opati, Kartikeya Makker, Michelle Gontasz, Anna Sick-Samuels

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: Many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) lack access to subspecialist consultants and may transfer patients requiring subspecialty care to referral facilities or seek informal consultation. The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of extending pediatric subspecialty services from a children’s hospital to a level III NICU via teleconsultation and describe processes, facilitators, and challenges. Methods: Monitored consultations for 1 year and surveyed clinicians regarding feasibility, perceived benefits, and challenges. Results: Fifty-nine teleconsultations were conducted. NICU providers indicated improved care quality with subspecialty input. Subspecialists reported advantages of documenting, billing, and providing more complete care, but noted logistical strains. Both parties perceived better interdisciplinary communication. Conclusions: This teleconsultation service was feasible, generally acceptable, improved access to subspecialty services, and improved NICU clinicians’ perceived care quality. Challenges included infrastructure development costs, workflow training time, logistics, and subspecialist patient volumes. This is among the first descriptions of a pediatric subspecialty teleconsultation service supporting a NICU.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalTelemedicine and e-Health
DOIs
StateAccepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

  • health care equity.
  • neonatology
  • NICU
  • subspecialty consultation
  • telemedicine

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Informatics
  • Health Information Management

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