Intermountain hospital emergency department doctors in Salt Lake City can now connect with Primary Children’s Hospital’s emergency department, trauma and pediatric ICU specialists through a TeleHealth video consult available 24/7.
“We’ve found that about 80 percent of pediatric emergency, trauma and ICU patients who’ve been transferred to Primary Children’s are discharged within 24 hours. During a six-month trial period of this new Telehealth pediatric service, about half of those pediatric emergency patients are now able to safely stay in their local communities,” said Katrina Jensen, a pediatric nurse with Intermountain Healthcare.
“They’re either treated and sent home or admitted to their local hospital or a closer hospital, avoiding unnecessary transfers far from home. This is a huge benefit to patients and their families, as well as providers at emergency departments,” she added.
The primary goal of this service is to keep patients in their home communities whenever possible, reducing transfers to hospitals hundreds of miles away, which also means lower costs to patients and family members. It also enhances patient and provider satisfaction. Read more.
