[II-IL2-1] Telemedicine for Cardiac Conditions in the Newborn: A Case Study
Keywords:newborn, telemedicine, congenital heart disease
Neonatologists located in regional neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are using telemedicine to better support staff caring for newborns that are critically ill after delivery in smaller community hospitals. The objective of this study is to review the evidence on neonatal telemedicine and provide a case study of telemedicine use for newborns with cardiac conditions.
Telemedicine has been shown to improve the quality of advanced resuscitation for neonates born in smaller community hospitals when compared to resuscitation by the local care team alone (Fang et al, 2018). Telemedicine also facilitates decisions about patient transfer to a higher level of care – reducing the odds of transport to the NICU by 30-50% (Albritton et al, 2018; Haynes et al, 2020). Economic modeling studies demonstrate neonatal telemedicine programs are cost-saving and reduce medical expenditures (Thao et al, 2022; Yoo et al, 2022).
Telemedicine is also used to support community hospitals in the care of newborns with cardiac conditions. In this case study of neonates with arrhythmias and congenital heart disease, telemedicine consults with the neonatologist in discussion with a pediatric cardiologist facilitated prompt evaluation and treatment. For some patients, telemedicine allowed the newborns to remain in the community hospital with outpatient follow-up.
Additional research is needed to determine if telemedicine consultations for neonates born with cardiac conditions in small or rural hospitals improves health outcomes and the overall care experience for infants, families, and health care staff.
Telemedicine has been shown to improve the quality of advanced resuscitation for neonates born in smaller community hospitals when compared to resuscitation by the local care team alone (Fang et al, 2018). Telemedicine also facilitates decisions about patient transfer to a higher level of care – reducing the odds of transport to the NICU by 30-50% (Albritton et al, 2018; Haynes et al, 2020). Economic modeling studies demonstrate neonatal telemedicine programs are cost-saving and reduce medical expenditures (Thao et al, 2022; Yoo et al, 2022).
Telemedicine is also used to support community hospitals in the care of newborns with cardiac conditions. In this case study of neonates with arrhythmias and congenital heart disease, telemedicine consults with the neonatologist in discussion with a pediatric cardiologist facilitated prompt evaluation and treatment. For some patients, telemedicine allowed the newborns to remain in the community hospital with outpatient follow-up.
Additional research is needed to determine if telemedicine consultations for neonates born with cardiac conditions in small or rural hospitals improves health outcomes and the overall care experience for infants, families, and health care staff.