AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Remote Visits by Pediatricians for Sick Children at Inner-City and Other Child Care Centers/Schools Reduce Absences and Emergency Department Use

Remote Visits by Pediatricians for Sick Children at Inner-City and Other Child Care Centers/Schools Reduce Absences and Emergency Department Use

Snapshot
Summary
Child care centers and elementary schools in the inner city and other areas in and around Rochester, New York, have access to a web-based telemedicine system developed by the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) known as Health-e-Access. This program allows pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants to provide remote diagnosis and consultation for sick children in child care centers and schools. Trained assistants at these sites use a personal computer, a high-resolution camera, videoconferencing equipment, an electronic stethoscope and other medical instruments to gather and transmit information on a sick child to the clinician, who responds with a diagnosis and treatment recommendations including prescriptions. Research indicates that this program has reduced illness-related absences in children by more than half, reduced emergency department (ED) visits by nearly a quarter, and eased the burden on working parents by allowing them to stay at work.

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AHRQ Innovations Exchange | Remote Visits by Pediatricians for Sick Children at Inner-City and Other Child Care Centers/Schools Reduce Absences and Emergency Department Use