Telemedicine and eHealth Applications in the Pediatric Population

Dear colleagues,

Telehealth is changing how we care for children, but it is not just "adult telemedicine made smaller." When kids are involved, everything becomes more complex—and more interesting.

The integration of telehealth technologies in pediatric care represents a transformative shift that addresses longstanding barriers to healthcare access while introducing novel considerations unique to child and adolescent populations. Unlike adult telemedicine, pediatric telehealth must navigate the complex dynamics of parent–child–provider interactions, accommodate developmental variations in communication abilities, and address the distinctive clinical needs that require hands-on examination and assessment. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated adoption across pediatric subspecialties, revealing both the remarkable potential for remote management of chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and mental health disorders, as well as the limitations in conducting comprehensive physical examinations and developmental screenings.

Now, as we settle into hybrid care models, we are grappling with big questions: How do we maintain that crucial therapeutic relationship virtually? What about families who cannot access reliable internet? When is a virtual visit good enough, and when do we absolutely need in-person care for optimal outcomes?

We are seeking research that tackles these real-world challenges across all aspects of pediatric telehealth.

Potential Article Topics for Submission

Clinical Applications and Outcomes

• Remote monitoring of chronic pediatric conditions (asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, and cardiac)
• Virtual mental health interventions for children and adolescents
• Telehealth in pediatric subspecialties (cardiology, endocrinology, neurology, and psychiatry)
• Emergency and urgent care triage via telemedicine
• Post-operative follow-up and wound care management
• School-based telehealth programs and outcomes

Diagnostic Challenges and Clinical Decision-Making

• Limitations and adaptations in virtual physical examinations for children
• Diagnostic accuracy in pediatric telehealth vs. in-person care
• Parent-mediated assessment techniques for remote diagnosis
• Age-specific diagnostic challenges in virtual pediatric consultations
• Clinical decision support tools for pediatric telehealth diagnosis
• Red flag identification and escalation protocols in virtual pediatric care

Education and Health Promotion

• Virtual health education programs for children and families
• Parent training and coaching through telehealth platforms
• Interactive digital health literacy initiatives for pediatric populations
• Remote lifestyle counseling and behavior modification programs
• Telehealth-delivered anticipatory guidance and preventive care education

Technology and Innovation

• AI-assisted pediatric diagnostic tools for remote care
• Mobile health applications for pediatric populations
• Wearable devices and remote patient monitoring in children
• Virtual reality applications in pediatric therapy and pain management
• Integration of telemedicine with electronic health records in pediatric settings

Access, Equity, and Social Determinants

• Rural pediatric healthcare delivery through telehealth
• Addressing digital divides into pediatric telehealth access
• Telehealth utilization patterns across different socioeconomic groups
• Language barriers and cultural considerations in virtual pediatric care

Quality, Safety, and Standards

• Clinical practice guidelines for pediatric telehealth
• Quality metrics and outcome measures for virtual pediatric care
• Privacy and security considerations for minors in telehealth
• Training and competency requirements for providers
• Medico-legal considerations in pediatric telemedicine

Family and Developmental Considerations

• Parent satisfaction and engagement in pediatric telehealth
• Age-appropriate communication strategies in virtual visits
• Impact on parent–child–provider relationships
• Telehealth in early childhood development and screening
• Adolescent-specific considerations in virtual healthcare delivery

Implementation and Health System considerations

• Workflow optimization for pediatric telehealth programs
• Cost-effectiveness analyses of virtual vs. in-person pediatric care
• Staff training and change management in pediatric telehealth adoption
• Hybrid care models in pediatric practices
• International perspectives on pediatric telehealth implementation

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Motti Haimi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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• telehealth
• remote monitoring
• digital health
• mobile health
• pediatric telemedicine
• virtual reality applications