Successful implementation of telehealth visits in the paediatric heart failure and heart transplant population

Cardiol Young. 2024 Mar;34(3):531-534. doi: 10.1017/S1047951123001312. Epub 2023 Jul 31.

Abstract

The Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) and Pediatric Heart Transplant Society (PHTS) convened a working group at the beginning of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the aim of using telehealth as an alternative medium to provide quality care to a high-acuity paediatric population receiving advanced cardiac therapies. An algorithm was developed to determine appropriateness, educational handouts were developed for both patients and providers, and post-visit surveys were collected. Telehealth was found to be a viable modality for health care delivery in the paediatric heart failure and transplant population and has promising application in the continuity of follow-up, medication titration, and patient education/counselling domains.

Keywords: Heart failure; Paediatric heart transplant; Telehealth.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Child
  • Heart Failure* / surgery
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Humans
  • Pandemics
  • Telemedicine*