Telemedicine in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Telemedicine technologies involve real-time, live, interactive video and audio communication and allow pediatric critical care physicians to have a virtual presence at the bedside of any critically ill child. Telemedicine use is increasing and will be a common technology in remote emergency departments, inpatient wards, and pediatric intensive care units. There is mounting data that demonstrate that the use of telemedicine technologies can result in higher quality of care, more efficient resource use and improved cost-effectiveness, and higher satisfaction among patients, parents, and remote providers compared to current models of care.