The Use of Telehealth to Improve Handoffs Between Neonatologists and Primary Care Providers for Medically Complex Infants.

ABSTRACT

As part of the Supporting Pediatric Research Outcomes Utilizing Telehealth (SPROUT) collaboration, three institutions (University of California, Davis, Children's Hospital Colorado, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) sought to improve communication with primary care providers (PCPs) using telehealth. This project connected families of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients, their PCPs, and their NICU team through telehealth to provide an enhanced hospital handoff. This case series reports four cases that exemplify the benefits of these enhanced hospital handoffs Case 1 assisting with changing care plans after NICU discharge, Case 2 demonstrating physical findings, Case 3 incorporation of additional subspecialties through telehealth, Case 4 arranging care for remote patients. Although these cases demonstrate some of the potential benefits of these handoffs, further study is needed to determine acceptability of these handoffs and to see whether they impact patient outcomes.