Statistically, two-thirds of the pediatric visits out of 600 cases were managed via telemedicine consultation with no additional visits and follow-ups. Kristina Kissiova, MD, Children’s National Health System enumerated the benefits of telemedicine during the pandemic. He stated that telemedicine enhanced patient care, reduced healthcare costs, and reduced crowding and waiting time for patients in the office and emergency departments. In a study presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies, the retrospective data concluded that half of the patients were male, 65% were white, and 89% had commercial insurance with the most common age group being 6-12 years (23%).

Out of the total 638 cases, 60% of them were completed via telemedicine with no additional visits or referrals needed. The most common conditions encountered were upper respiratory tract infection (18.7%), dermatological issues (16.3%), gastrointestinal issues (12.9%), Covid 19 issue (11.9%), and fever (10.3%).   

The adoption of teleconsultation and medicine in primary care has been a beneficial step for the future. Tim Joos, MD, internal medicine/pediatric practice stated that “as awful this pandemic was, it has propelled healthcare delivery at an unconventional pace into the digital world.” The current study was important as it highlights the number of cases that were successfully resolved using telemedicine, offering better access and more options to patients and families. 

(Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/972644?src= )