Revolutionizing Pediatric Care: Permanent Video Consultations for Sick Kids
Permanent telehealth consultations available for ill kids - Ongoing Video Meet-ups for Ailing Kids
Got a sick kid at home? Well, it's about to get a heap easier with the introduction of video consultations. After a fruitful two-year trial, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians in Hesse (KVH) is bringing this innovative service to life, effective October 1st, in the pediatric on-call service. Previously, this service was only available during off-peak hours and on holidays.
Armin Beck, the deputy chairman of the KVH board, says, "We've ironed out every kink during the testing phase, and it's proven to be highly effective." The main goal is to cut down on sick children and their parents traveling to an on-call center and slash waiting times.
Say goodbye to long trips and queues
So, how does this all work? Sick kids' parents can, at the moment, book appointments via the 116117 hotline between 9 am and 7 pm. For instance, during the extended weekend around Corpus Christi (19-22 June). The staff then assesses whether the symptoms make a video consultation appropriate and schedules a chat with a pediatrician. Families join the appointment via a link. Should it become clear during the consultation that a physical exam is necessary, families will then be referred to the nearest pediatric on-call center.
Not for every sickness, though
Of course, not all ailments are suitable for online care, such as high fevers or severe injuries. Beck explains that patients with various rashes, conjunctivitis, stomach flu, or prescription requests are ideal candidates for video consultations.
The service was first tested during a long weekend around October 3rd, 2023. Since then, approximately 1,500 video consultations have been conducted around holidays. Starting October 1st, the service will be offered permanently. This means it'll be available on Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 pm to midnight, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 7 pm to midnight, and on weekends from 7 am to 7 pm.
Beck adds, "The next step is to provide such emergency care via video for adults as well."
- Video consultations
- Children
- Telemedicine
- Weekend
- Frankfurt am Main
- Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians
- Hesse
Insights:
Typically, video consultations in pediatric care involve using digital platforms to allow parents or caregivers to consult with pediatricians remotely. This can include access to a platform, symptom reporting, consultation, and follow-up appointments. Please see the KVH's official website or contact them directly for more specific details about the Hessian service.
- As video consultations in pediatric care become more common, it may be beneficial for community policy to address the role of telemedicine in health-and-wellness, particularly mental-health, by providing guidelines for vocational training for health professionals in this area.
- In light of the success of video consultations in pediatric care, it could be interesting to explore the potential implementation of similar services for vocational training programs, offering science-based instruction through digital platforms, thus making education more accessible to a broader community.
