Advances in Telehealth: Children’s National Hospital experience

The COPHS hosted Dr Karen Smith, Medical Director of Global Services at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC USA.  Dr. Smith is board certified in Pediatrics and Pediatric Hospital Medicine, and has considerable experience in initiating and promoting telehealth globally.

Dr Smith covered what Telehealth is and what constitutes telehealth services, Telehealth services of Clinical services, Education & Research, and Individual health with all being facilitated through data sharing. For Clinical services, issues such as WhatsApp, Patient portal, Mall kiosks, Hospital to Hospital, Work-based, School based. Telehealth services are planned for inpatient care, e-ICU such as CICU, NICU, PICU, outpatient care such as primary care and emergency room acute care. The role of artificial intelligence and data mining was also highlighted in the webinar with examples of how these could be used to monitor patients and highlight issues that arise in patient care and alert the health care providers so the appropriate action is taken. Research in telehealth type of services that may be offered and how to improve telehealth was also discussed and feedback on telehealth -delivered services VS face-to-face care were highlighted. Considerations with Telehealth were exposed during the webinar including Safety issues of patient outcomes of care and IT Security, Quality issues related to Regulations and Licensure, Access issues of language and Internet connection, and Cost issues of Overuse and Accessories needed for Telehealth. Post hospital discharge and Remote second opinion programs were illuminated during the Webinar and the need for physician and other provider training was spotted. Some examples of tools and devices used to offer services during telehealth were portrayed and shown to relate the service with the type of device that may be used. The role of pharmacists was detailed in providing care through telehealth; checking for appropriate drug selection, interactions between medications, side effects and patient counseling.