Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
J Pediatr Orthop B. 2022 Jan 1;31(1):e69-e74. doi: 10.1097/BPB.0000000000000850.
Telehealth services are innovative healthcare strategies that utilize communication technologies to improve healthcare access for patients. Teleradiology is a form of telehealth service that involves the transmission of radiological images, such as x-rays, CTs and MRIs, from one location to another to share patient information with other physicians. The purpose of this study was to assess teleradiology consultations for orthopaedic patients at a paediatric tertiary care centre. A retrospective review was conducted of patients who received teleradiology consultations with a single orthopaedic surgeon from 2015 to 2018 through the paediatric orthopaedic hip clinic at our institution. Teleradiology consultations involved follow-up radiographic imaging at a local community facility for patients who initially received healthcare services at our institution, followed by a telephone consultation to review imaging results and communicate next steps in care. Data collected included patient demographics, imaging type, facility location and distance from our institution. Eighty patients (F = 66, M = 14) who received teleradiology services were reviewed. Mean age was 3.5 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5-4.4] at time of imaging. The average distance from community facilities to our institution was 1167 km (95% confidence interval: 920-1414), a measure of the total distance saved in travel for each patient in a single direction. The travel distance saved was substantial. Paediatric orthopaedic teleradiology services provide families specialized consultations and care continuity without costly travel. With increased implementation of teleradiology services, more patients and families can remain in their home communities while receiving the same quality of care.
远程医疗服务是一种利用通信技术改善患者医疗服务可及性的创新医疗策略。远程放射学是远程医疗服务的一种形式，涉及将放射图像（如 X 光、CT 和 MRI）从一个地点传输到另一个地点，以便与其他医生共享患者信息。本研究旨在评估一家儿科三级保健中心的远程放射学咨询对骨科患者的作用。对 2015 年至 2018 年间通过我院小儿矫形髋关节诊所由一位骨科医生进行的远程放射学咨询的患者进行了回顾性研究。远程放射学咨询涉及在当地社区医疗机构对在我院最初接受医疗服务的患者进行随访放射影像学检查，然后进行电话咨询以审查影像学结果并沟通下一步治疗措施。收集的数据包括患者人口统计学信息、影像学类型、医疗机构位置和与我院的距离。共回顾了 80 名（女性 66 名，男性 14 名）接受远程放射学服务的患者。影像学检查时的平均年龄为 3.5 岁[95%置信区间（CI）：2.5-4.4]。社区医疗机构与我院的平均距离为 1167 公里（95%CI：920-1414），这是每个患者在单一方向上旅行节省的总距离的衡量标准。节省的旅行距离相当可观。儿科矫形远程放射学服务为患者及其家属提供了专业的咨询和护理连续性，而无需昂贵的旅行。随着远程放射学服务的广泛实施，更多的患者和家庭可以在其所在社区接受同样高质量的护理。
