Impact of Tele-Emergency Consultations on Pediatric Interfacility Transfers

JAMA Network Open: Impact of Tele-Emergency Consultations on Pediatric Interfacility Transfers

This study found that when comparing telephone-based consultations to those conducted via video telehealth, the latter helped limit pediatric hospital transfers more effectively, limiting unnecessary transfers for patients and their families. According to the study, interfacility transfers can be unnecessary; however, many rural emergency departments do not have pediatric specialty care physicians, creating a need for these transfers. After adjusting for patient age, illness severity, and hospital study period, researchers found that in the intention-to-treat analysis, those involved in a video telehealth consultation had a lower chance of being transferred compared to those in the telephone group.