Using Telemedicine for Pediatric Preanesthesia Evaluation: A Pilot Project.

Abstract

PURPOSE\nThe purpose of the study was to implement using telemedicine for pediatric preanesthesia evaluation and to evaluate patient and provider satisfaction.\n\n\nDESIGN\nThis is a nonrandomized prospective evidence-based practice project.\n\n\nMETHODS\nPediatric patients were nonrandomly recruited to receive preanesthesia evaluation by telemedicine. Patients, parents, and providers completed a 5-point Likert scale satisfaction survey after the encounter.\n\n\nFINDINGS\nOverall satisfaction with using telemedicine was very high for both patients, parents, and providers, with an overall mean Likert scale score of 4.63 for patients and parents, and 4.67 for providers.\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThis project provides evidence in support of using telemedicine in the setting of pediatric preanesthesia evaluation. Using telemedicine has the potential to improve patient outcomes by improving the patient-provider relationship and increasing access to care.