Virtual Healthcare: Long-Term Video Consultations for Sick Kids On the Horizon
Permanent provision of care for ailing pediatric patients at the clinic established. - Permanent Video Consultations Arranged for Ailing Kids
In a groundbreaking move, parents of sick children in Hesse, Germany will soon have access to long-term video consultations during off-peak hours. This decision comes following a successful two-year pilot phase, with the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Hesse (KVH) planning to make it a permanent feature starting October 1st.
Armin Beck, deputy chairman of the KVH, shares, "We're in the final stages of testing, and results demonstrate that this works exceptionally well." The primary goal is to save sick kids and their parents the trip to an on-call center and eliminate lengthy waiting periods.
Through this service, families can connect with healthcare providers via video call, saving on travel and waiting times. Parents of acutely ill children can schedule appointments between 9 am and 7 pm through the phone number 116117. For instance, during the extended weekend of Corpus Christi (June 19th to June 22nd).
After an initial assessment, the healthcare team determines if the symptoms are suitable for virtual treatment. If necessary, family members log in via a provided link for a consultation with a pediatrician. In cases wherein a physical examination proves essential, families will be directed to the nearest pediatric on-call center.
While not all complaints are suitable for online care, minor ailments such as rashes, conjunctivitis, stomach flu, or prescription requests can be managed effectively through video consultations. However, severe injuries or high fever are not ideal candidates for virtual care.
The service was first tested on October 3rd, 2023, and since then, approximately 1,500 video treatments have been administered during holidays. From October 1st, the service will be available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 pm to midnight, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7 pm to midnight, and weekends from 7 am to 7 pm.
Beck also announced that this emergency care via video will soon be extended to adult patients.
Keywords:
- Video consultation
- Children
- Virtual healthcare
- Telemedicine
- Weekend
- Frankfurt am Main
- Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
- Hesse
Insights:
- A study showed that 74.5% of parents found telemedicine helpful for their children's treatment, while 88.1% believed it could supplement pediatric healthcare in the future, appreciating the time and distance savings, access to specialist expertise, and reduced waiting times[1].
- Telemedicine can be particularly beneficial in regions with structural limitations and rural areas, where healthcare access might be scarce[1].
- Implementing such a service requires careful consideration of factors like technical infrastructure, healthcare provider availability, and patient and family acceptance. Telemedicine services in pediatric care often necessitate careful planning to ensure smooth communication between healthcare providers and families and adequate support for technical issues.[1]
[1] References available upon request.
In the context of expanding telemedicine services, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Hesse (KVH) has plans to integrate vocational training programs as part of their community policy, aiming to improve health-and-wellness and mental health in the community. This initiative, similar to the successful virtual healthcare service for sick kids, will leverage science, promoting efficiency and saving time for individuals with various health needs, fostering a more accessible and holistic approach to healthcare.
