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. 2022 Mar-Apr;36(2):e22-e35.
doi: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2021.10.001. Epub 2021 Dec 5.

Feasibility of Post-hospitalization Telemedicine Video Visits for Children With Medical Complexity

David Y Ming, Tingxuan Li, Melissa H Ross, Jennifer Frush, Jingyi He, Benjamin A Goldstein, Valerie Jarrett, Natalie Krohl, Sharron L Docherty, Christine B Turley, Hayden B Bosworth

Feasibility of Post-hospitalization Telemedicine Video Visits for Children With Medical Complexity

David Y Ming et al. J Pediatr Health Care. 2022 Mar-Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate feasibility and acceptability of post-hospitalization telemedicine video visits (TMVV) during hospital-to-home transitions for children with medical complexity (CMC); and explore associations with hospital utilization, caregiver self-efficacy (CSE), and family self-management (FSM).

Method: This non-randomized pilot study assigned CMC (n=28) to weekly TMVV for four weeks post-hospitalization; control CMC (n=20) received usual care without telemedicine. Feasibility was measured by time to connection and proportion of TMVV completed; acceptability was measured by parent-reported surveys. Pre/post-discharge changes in CSE, FSM, and hospital utilization were assessed.

Results: 64 TMVV were completed; 82 % of patients completed 1 TMVV; 54 % completed four TMVV. Median time to TMVV connection was 1 minute (IQR=2.5). Parents reported high acceptability of TMVV (mean 6.42; 1 -7 scale). CSE and FSM pre/post-discharge were similar for both groups; utilization declined in both groups post-discharge.

Discussion: Post-hospitalization TMVV for CMC were feasible and acceptable during hospital-to-home transitions.

Keywords: Telehealth; children with medical complexity; hospital-to-home; transitions of care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Financial disclosures/conflict of interest: Dr. Bosworth reports research grants from Otsuka, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Improved Patient Outcomes, Boehringer Ingelheim, NIH, and VA as well as consulting from Sanofi, Novartis, Otsuka, Abbott, Xcenda, Preventric Diagnostics, and the Medicines Company. All other authors have indicated they have no financial relationships and no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
CONSORT study flow diagram
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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