Telemedicine in the Pediatric ICU

Abstract

Pediatric ICU telemedicine encompasses a variety of different program types, provider types, pediatric specialties, and patient locations. In this chapter, we describe the history of pediatric ICU telemedicine, provide examples of many types of programs, and discuss the challenges and future directions faced by this field of practice. We provide data supporting the impact of models such as pediatric critical care and emergency medicine teleconsultation to remote emergency departments, hospital floors, and adult ICUs, as well as neonatology teleconsultation to remote nurseries. We discuss the standards and guidelines that pertain to pediatric critical care telehealth services and the promising areas for potential growth. Family-centered care models, multispecialty care coordination, telehealth services in the home for children with chronic and complex diseases, and acute resuscitation guidance are all areas that are expected to see substantial growth in the coming years. Finally, we address how to approach development of pediatric critical care focused telehealth programs to optimize the delivery of healthcare services and maximize impact to your patient populations.