The Evolution of Telehealth From Pre-COVID-19 Pandemic Through A Hybrid Virtual Care Delivery Model: A Pediatric Hospital’s Journey

Authors

  • Evelyn Abrahante Terrell Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Saima Aftab Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Anne Babitz Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Lauren Butler Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Nicole Gondar Hernandez Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Bianca Hornik Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Keysla Lee Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Jennifer Perez Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Elizabeth Sotolongo Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
  • Jessica Thomas Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2021.6432

Keywords:

COVID-19, Early intervention, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation services, Telehealth

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed care delivery and influenced telehealth adoption by rehabilitation professionals and their patients. The purpose of this paper is to describe a pediatric health system’s telehealth services pre-pandemic and how those services were scaled during the pandemic. A secondary aim is to provide a roadmap for the operational delivery of telehealth and rehabilitation services, including transition to a hybrid care delivery model. Findings suggested that telehealth can be rapidly scaled to address patient healthcare needs for an early intervention population during a pandemic. Telehealth use during the pandemic helped ensure continuity of care and likely reduced the risk of exposure to patients and staff to the virus. Benefits included enhanced access to care, and savings in time and money for families. Interestingly, as the pandemic declined, the use of telehealth services declined due to patient preference, with many families opting to request a return to in-person care.

 

  

Author Biographies

Evelyn Abrahante Terrell, Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S PEDIATRIC VIRTUAL CARE, TELEHEALTH CENTER, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Saima Aftab , Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S PEDIATRIC VIRTUAL CARE, TELEHEALTH CENTER, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Anne Babitz , Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Lauren Butler, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Nicole Gondar Hernandez, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Bianca Hornik, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Keysla Lee, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Jennifer Perez, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

JENNIFER PEREZ, MS, CCC-SLP

Elizabeth Sotolongo , Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Virtual Care, Telehealth Center, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S PEDIATRIC VIRTUAL CARE, TELEHEALTH CENTER, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

Jessica Thomas, Department of Rehabilitation Services, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA

DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES, NICKLAUS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, MIAMI, FL, USA

 

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Published

2021-12-01

How to Cite

Terrell, E. A., Aftab, S., Babitz, A., Butler, L., Hernandez, N. G., Hornik, B., Lee, K., Perez, J., Sotolongo, E., & Thomas, J. (2021). The Evolution of Telehealth From Pre-COVID-19 Pandemic Through A Hybrid Virtual Care Delivery Model: A Pediatric Hospital’s Journey. International Journal of Telerehabilitation, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.5195/ijt.2021.6432

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2021)

Section

Clinical Practice - COVID 19

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