High Satisfaction from UC-Davis Pediatric Telemedicine Program

Even though Marcin and his team are waiting to publish their first satisfaction studies in a peer-reviewed journal, early results look good, he says. “Pretty much across the board we have statistically higher satisfaction from the parents and their perceptions of quality of care are higher when video conferencing is used compared to telephone,” says Marcin. He also notes there is a “step-wise increase of quality of care” when video-conferencing is used. Additional analyses will be performed to see if the program reduces medical errors.

UCDCH has had a robust telemedicine program since the ’90s that includes inpatient infectious disease consultations and audiology consultations. Marcin sees a recent California bill mandating that care providers other than physicians (i.e. occupational and physical therapists) can bill for telehealth services will likely expand the program further. “I feel like anywhere healthcare is delivered, by doctor, nurse, therapist, whatever, they have the potential for video conferencing if it makes sense for them, to make their jobs easier,” says Marcin.