The effect of a neonatal telecardiology system on respiratory therapy in very low birthweight infants.
Factors in the U.S. healthcare system have shifted the site of care of many newborns to hospitals where subspecialty services are unavailable. This study examines whether a more rapid turn-around of echocardiogram interpretations and availability of interactive video during neonatal consultations reduces the morbidity of very low birthweight (VLBW) infants. The two groups (n = 21 and n = 28) were similar on the basis of known risk factors. A composite index of respiratory therapy intensivity and duration was used to measure the utilization of respiratory therapies. The index was similar in both groups, 89.6 +/- 12.6 before versus 89.5 +/- 13.0 with telemedicine. These results show little evidence of a reduction in RT utilization.
Rendina
M C
MC
School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.
Bose
C L
CL
Gallaher
K J
KJ
Long
W A
WA
Ciszek
T A
TA
Baush
C M
CM
Lowe
W W
WW
D002309:Cardiology; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004452:Echocardiography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D019114:Remote Consultation; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies