Telehealth Collaborative

Overview

Emerging public health crises, such as viral illnesses, pandemics, and natural or man-made disasters, are increasing the demands faced by our already strained emergency care systems. As these situations continue to unfold, children are placed at increased risk due to: 1) decreased access to emergency and other healthcare providers as capacity and capability of communities are overwhelmed, 2) enhanced focus on the critically ill diverting resources away from non-critically ill children, and 3) redirection of resources away from efforts to optimize and build resiliency in systems for the provision of high-quality care for children.

The EMSC Innovation and Improvement Centered launched the HRSA-EMSC sponsored Telehealth Collaborative in January 2021. The primary purpose of this collaborative was to evaluate the impact of public health crises on children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and children with behavioral health emergencies, assess telehealth capacities, and provide guidance and support to improve access to emergency pediatric services particularly in rural, tribal, and territorial areas.

Telehealth Impact

Telehealth, one form of electronic health (e-health) strategies, offers an alternative approach to meeting the needs of these children. The use of this virtual technology offers the same standard of care that would otherwise be provided for a given condition during an in-person visit yet offers this care remotely. Various types of telehealth exist (teleconsultation, tele-education, telepsychiatry, telemonitoring). Each has utility in addressing healthcare needs.