Telemedicine for children with disabilities

Abstract

We evaluated the efficacy of team-to-team interdisciplinary telemedicine evaluations for children with special needs in rural Iowa. A real-time cable system was connected to two public school sites and a small regional hospital from the hospital-based Center for Disabilities and Development. Results from the treatment and control groups suggest that the telemedicine group (parents) reported consultations at least as effective as parents who received on-site evaluations. Providers (multiple professionals) were equally positive about the evaluations. Data suggest that the telemedicine evaluations were viewed as good as face-to-face consultations. Significant cost savings occurred. Copyright © 2006, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.