Have you ever

considered
telemedicine as
another option for your
special needs child?

image courtesy of rochester.edu

What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine is literally medicine delivered from a
distance (globalmed.com)
Specifically to you, it allows Children with Special Health
Care Needs to be evaluated and then accurately diagnosed
in a remote location where extensive travel is not necessary.

Here is a link to a helpful video that explains telemedicine:

http://www.globalmed.com/additional-resources/what-is-telemedicine.php

Why bother?
Telemedicine is EXTREMELY convenient for you and the healthcare professionals.
Telemedicine saves your family money.
No more having to wait extended periods of time in the waiting room of doctors offices.
Telemedicine provides better and more efficient access to pediatric specialists for your
child.
There is a shortage of Pediatric Specialists so this allows for them to reach more patients.
Telemedicine aids in better communication between everyone involved.
Your child will feel much more comfortable in a remote setting where he/she is not having
to constantly travel and meet new faces.
Telemedicine leads to quicker and faster diagnoses.

The Biggest Advantage:

CONVENIENCE
Telemedicine is convenient for everyone involved!
-You can simply go to a remote location (or even your house
depending on the circumstance) where you can reach any doctor
your child needs no matter the distance.
-You no longer have to worry about.
*asking off work to travel far distances
*your special needs child missing school
*waisting time sitting in a busy waiting room

Telemedicine saves $!!!!

Due to having to see so many Pediatric Specialists, and
often times having to travel long distances to get there,
special needs children can require excessive amounts of
money.

So how does telemedicine save money??

It saves on gas, lodging, other travel expenses, and
cheaper co-pays.

Worried about the privacy

aspect of telemedicine?
DONT BE!!! Telemedicine is extremely
safe. HIPAA laws ensure that it is secure
and private.
Here is a link to find out more information of the security of telemedicine:
http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/
hipaa_for_trcs_2014_0.pdf

Traditional face-to-face
care vs. telemedicine visits:
Just because you are not technically in person with the
pediatric specialist does not mean that the quality of care
for your child is lowered. In fact, a particular study was
done and proved that families felt no difference in care
and that they did feel like telemedicine care was more
family-centered than face-to-face care. Overall, positive
feedback was given when describing the patient to
professional interaction (Hooshmand).

How does a telemedicine

visit work?
Who does the visit include?
-a family (parent/guardian)
-a special needs child
-Registered Nurse (or Doctor)
Where do they meet?
-The actual examination where the family,
child, and nurse meet is called the remote
site
-The Pediatric Specialist is located at the hub
site and connects via high tech technology

Image courtesy of c3otelemedicine.com

See what other parents that have

CSHCN have to say about telemedicine
I love telemedicine! I get to see the doctor right here
where I live. Its like the doctor is here in the room. The
best thing is I dont have to travel and it saves time.
-Parent from floridahealth.gov

Telemedicine has been a lifesaver. Kyle is getting the

healthcare he needs without us having to travel two to
three hours one-way, sometimes, to be told nothing has
changed.
-Parent from aucd.org

Still Unsure?
Below is a functioning network that works to help parents
and families, like you, consider telemedicine as a serious
option for their child with special needs.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/alternatesites/cms-kids/
families/health_services/telemedicine.html

Lastly
Parents, please be patient as implementing telemedicine
into your doctors offices and hospitals is a lengthy and
thorough process. However, with time and patience,
telemedicine will be wonderful!

Sources:
- Telemedicine Services. (n.d.). Retrieved from http:// www.floridahealth.gov/alternatesites/cms-kids/ families/health_services/
telemedicine.html.

- Hooshmand, Mary A., "Comparison of Telemedicine to Traditional Face-to-Face Care for Children with Special Health Care Needs: Analysis
of Cost, Caring, and Family- Centered Care, Family Cost Survey, Caring Professional Scale, Measure of Processes of Care 20-Item
Scale" (2010). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 408.

-Meeting the Health Care Needs of Californias Children: The Role of Telemedicine. (2007). Digital Opportunity for Youth, 3.

-HIPAA and Telehealth. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.telehealthresourcecenter.org/sites/main/files/file-attachments/

hipaa_for_trcs_2014_0.pdf

-What Is Telemedicine? (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.globalmed.com/additional-resources/what-is-telemedicine.php